An up-and-coming
fashion label has received a $10,000 helping hand to tackle
new export markets. The three
designers behind Hamilton-based Nyne - Jacob Scott-Simmonds,
his wife Miranda Scott-Simmonds and Tina Patrick - were
awarded the 2011 DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship
yesterday. The prize provides the trio, which founded the
label in 2004, with $10,000 worth of overseas freight
services, as well as logistics coaching from DHL.
Jacob Scott-Simmonds
said that after establishing itself in New Zealand, Nyne
began exporting its men's and women's fashion to Australia
two years ago. To crack new markets many sample products had
to be sent overseas, he said, and the $10,000 worth of
freight services would come in handy for taking on Europe
and Asia. "It's an expensive process for us to get our
samples to those areas," Scott-Simmonds said.
The annual
scholarship, in its fourth year, was open to all New Zealand
fashion designers who have been exporting their products for
less than four years. Applicants submitted a design
portfolio, key trading figures and an export and marketing
strategy.
The Nyne trio entered
last year, but did not make the final. Erica
Crawford, one of the scholarship judges, said they had
"ticked all the boxes" this year. "It's not
easy taking the step into exporting, particularly in the
current climate," she said.
Fashion Industry New
Zealand executive officer Mapahi Opai, also a member of the
judging panel, said Nyne had been exporting for only two
years but was already stocked in 30 international stores, a
phenomenal level of growth. The label is stocked by a
further 30 retailers in this country and also has its own
concept store, The White Room, in Hamilton.