Aotearoa fashion’s biggest event is back for 2023. NZ Fashion Week will return to Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre on August 29, following a three-year break filled with cancellations and uncertainty.

Last held at the Auckland Town Hall in August 2019, NZFW will return to the Viaduct Events Centre from August 29 - September 2, under new ownership and management.

Designer Kate Sylvester will also celebrate 30 years in business with a high-profile fashion show at the event. She says acknowledging those three decades as part of this year’s NZFW is important, as it has played a key role in the brand’s history.

It has been a tumultuous few years for NZFW, which was launched in 2001 by Dame Pieter Stewart. It was one of the many local events impacted by Covid-19, having been postponed indefinitely in 2020, postponed again in 2021 then ultimately cancelled in January 2022.

In the middle of all of that it was sold to Vancouver-based businessman Feroz Ali, in May 2021, with Yasmin Farry appointed as Fashion Week’s new general manager in August last year.

Farry is widely-respected in the local industry, having spent many years working as a producer backstage on NZFW fashion shows, and has worked on events for other businesses. Her background means that she understands that the true magic of a show is a tricky balance of creativity and a bit of chaos, and a lot of practical organisation and logistics.

“I’ve loved the manic and messy energy of pulling a show together, the backstage chaos, the quick-fire problem-solving and the collaboration with designers to pull off what sometimes was an almost impossible task given the short show turnaround times,” she says of her experiences of the event.

“I’ve been able to watch this industry evolve, morph and become an incredible international community of artists.”

Since stepping into the role in September, she has spent time talking and listening to a variety of people in the industry, including designers, media, previous owner and managing director Stewart, and more – reflecting the breadth of businesses and creatives that the event involves.

It also reflects some of the shifts within the fashion industry since 2019. Runway shows here and overseas pivoted to digital-only during the pandemic, but like all industries, there has been a hunger for a return to in-real-life events. International fashion weeks have essentially returned to ‘normal’.

Over those three years, various local brands and stores have closed – and opened. Local fashion media has shifted dramatically, with fresh platforms launching (like  Ensemble!) and new content creators finding popularity.

In 2019 TikTok was still a relatively ‘small’ social media platform in New Zealand. Fashion retail, wholesaling and manufacturing have faced intense challenges, and now, there is a looming recession.

But for Farry, the return of NZFW sends an important message.

“[It] has played a role in many iconic New Zealand fashion moments, launched careers and been integral in launching young fashion brands. It’s been a tough time for the industry and after a three-year hiatus our designers, models, makeup artists, stylists and photographers have the opportunity to showcase their talents to the world and present their unique brand stories IRL to their own communities.”

And from a broader point of view, Farry believes that the return of the event is “a clear demonstration to the world that New Zealand is open for business, tourism and events”.

A key change, Farry says, is building a long-term association with mana whenua, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. This will allow the reimagined event to “evolve our cultural identity, improve our cultural competency and ensure the indigenous voice is amplified throughout”.

More public access is another shift. NZFW has offered public shows, and a consumer focused NZ Fashion Weekend, for several years but Farry says there will be a slightly new format with more shows available to the public during the traditional ‘trade only ‘period.

“We’ll also be adding an evening ‘Fashion Nights’ event to the programme which will mesh fashion, music and performance in a multimedia experience.”

Designer Sylvester is looking forward to a dynamic event that spotlights local fashion – and makes it even more accessible than it has been in the past.

“Traditionally fashion weeks have been industry focussed and perceived as exclusive,” she says, “but we hope to see more public interaction, engagement and excitement as designers create innovative new ways to showcase their collections.”