Johnny Schembri, By Johnny
DHL, the world’s leading logistics company, has revealed the finalists of its career-changing DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship, bringing three up-and-coming Australian designers a step closer to winning the opportunity to chase their dreams of global success.
The final three labels –By Johnny, Christopher Esber and Viktoria + Woods –were selected due to their impressive success in the domestic market to date, design aesthetics, potential to appeal to an international audience and solid strategies around international expansion and exporting.
The three finalists are vying for AU$10,000 worth of international freight, a DHL Express mentorship to supercharge their export strategy and mentoring from IMG. Following on from the launch of the DHL Exported competition in 2014, the winner will also have the opportunity to attend New York Fashion Week and, while they are there, meet with an international buyer.
Christopher Esber
The job of reviewing this year’s entrants’ look books and credentials fell to an esteemed panel of judges including Emily Weight, Director, Strategy and Brand Development, IMG Fashion Australia; Prue Lewington, Sunday Telegraph Fashion Editor; and Jamila Dlala, National Group Sales Manager at DHL Express.
Emily Weight said, “With twice the number of applications from last year, many of them from prominent labels, narrowing down the finalists to just three was a difficult task. It is fantastic to see so many talented Australian designers readying their businesses to expand globally via the opportunities the DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship provides. The three finalists have done more than just design beautiful collections; they have clear international expansion plans and a business strategy ready to take them global.”
Gary Edstein, Senior Vice President of DHL Express Oceania, said the company is proud of its commitment to the fashion industry: “As experts in logistics worldwide, we can see that our 2015 DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship finalists have enormous export potential and we are excited to provide a launch platform for these up-and-coming Australian brands. The business of fashion can be challenging and we’re pleased to be able to help talented designers in their quest to reach an international audience.” Locally, the DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship focuses on supporting up and coming Australian designers. Previous winners include Michael Lo Sordo, KAHLO, Haryono Setiadi, We Are Handsome and Bec & Bridge, who have each successfully utilised the Scholarship prize to help catapult their business overseas. Page 2 of 3 Locally, the DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship focuses on supporting up and coming Australian designers. Previous winners include Michael Lo Sordo, KAHLO, Haryono Setiadi, We Are Handsome and Bec & Bridge, who have each successfully utilised the Scholarship prize to help catapult their business overseas.
Locally, the DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship focuses on supporting up and coming Australian designers. Previous winners include Michael Lo Sordo, KAHLO, Haryono Setiadi, We Are Handsome and Bec & Bridge, who have each successfully utilised the Scholarship prize to help catapult their business overseas.
Maggie Woods and Lisa
Reynolds, Viktoria + Woods
By Johnny is available online and in SA at Niki Belle (396 Greenhill Road, Glenside)
Viktoria + Woods is available online and in SA from David Jones (Rundle Mall), Niki Belle (396 Greenhill Road, Glenside), The Little Boutique (3 Jetty St Grange), Wild Child (169-171 King William Rd, Hyde Park) and Mylk Bottle (2/29 Mount Barker Road Stirling).
Christopher Esber is available online.
The winner will be announced on 29 June, 2015. For more information, please visit www.dhl.com.
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