EVENTS

The Fashion Export Reality Check

DHL Express: FINZ Breakfast Seminar

7.00am to 10.30am

Thursday, 23 July, 2009

Quay West Suites, 8 Albert Street, Auckland Central

The Fashion Export Reality Check

With Air New Zealand Fashion Week just around the corner, Kiwi fashion companies are gearing-up to sell and showcase their collections for Autumn/Winter-2010. Export is positively crucial to local industry and, in the midst of tough economic conditions, there's never been a more important time to gauge the global receptivity towards New Zealand fashion and re-evaluate our key apparel export markets.

"International buyers are continually on the lookout for new and exciting labels, but our fashion export markets are changing and the challenges are mounting, even for our nearest and dearest across the Tasman," says FINZ executive officer, Mapihi Opai. "You can't assume that what you've always done will continue to work in the current economic climate and beyond."

The Fashion Export Reality Check is designed to help New Zealand fashion exporters make informed decisions about selling into offshore markets. What are the current economic and retail conditions in our key apparel export markets? How receptive are international buyers to New Zealand fashion right now? What strategies are our most successful exporters employing to build brands and develop new export markets? When to 'grow' and when to say 'no'?

Speakers include - Pieter Stewart, managing director of New Zealand Fashion Week; Stefan Preston, principal of Ingenio; Ian Webster, director of Verge; Nick Clegg, CEO of Federation Clothing; and Jason Orlop, fashion+textiles strategic account manager, at DHL Express.

The Fashion Export Reality Check will be held in the Sinclair Room of the Quay West Suites in Auckland Central on Thursday, 23 July, from 7.00am to 10.30am. Tickets cost NZ$95.00 ($65.00 FINZ members).

SPEAKERS

International Receptivity Towards New Zealand Fashion

PIETER STEWART - (Managing Director, NZFW)

Pieter Stewart's lifelong passion for the fashion industry began with her own Christchurch-based model agency and subsequent role as associate editor of Fashion Quarterly. She then went on to launch a promotions company that produced televised fashion events, such as the long-running Corbans and Wella Fashion Collections.

As the founder and driving force behind New Zealand Fashion Week, Stewart has become an international ambassador for New Zealand fashion. She regularly travels the globe to promote the event and New Zealand fashion, gathering candid feedback from some of fashion's most influential buyers and agents in the process.

Building Your Brand + Developing New Export Markets

STEFAN PRESTON - (Principal, Ingenio)

Stefan Preston earned an MBA at Stanford University and worked as a management consultant in San Francisco, before returning to New Zealand and heading companies such as Whitcoulls Group, Pacific Retail Group, Ubix and Bendon.

During his six-year stint at Bendon, the company more than doubled in size; expanding into the U.S, U.K and Middle East. In addition to a chain of retail stores across Australasia, the U.K and Middle East, the company secured solid market positions with some of the world's most prestigious retailers, including Harrods, Selfridges, Nieman Marcus and Saks.

Now the principal of INGENIO, an Auckland-based consulting and investment company that works primarily with design, retail and export firms, Preston also assists Kiwi exporters via New Zealand Trade + Enterprise's Better By Design and Beachheads programmes.

What's Happening Across The Tasman?

The Australian Fashion Market

IAN WEBSTER - (Director, Verge)

Fashion veteran, Ian Webster, began his career with New Zealand's first definitive designer-jeans brand Sasson. In 1987, he launched Hero in the midst of an economic doldrum, but the brand's fresh point of difference made it an instant success.

Webster and business partner, Neil Brabant, went on to found one of the country's leading fashion exports, VERGE, which continues to gain market share in New Zealand and has achieved phenomenal growth in Australia.

In recent years, the company has backed the VERGE Breakthrough shows at ANZFW, which have served as a launching pad for some of New Zealand's most exciting emerging fashion labels, including Cybele, Lonely Hearts, Michael Pattison, Keucke and Helen Talbot. The VERGE Boot Camp was also developed to ensure that participating designers were armed with the business and export nous needed to follow-through on their catwalk debuts.

Drawing from years of industry experience, Webster relishes his role as a mentor for emerging designers. He was also a founding member of Fashion Industry New Zealand (FINZ) and the organisation's first chairman.

The Holy Grail of Fashion Export ... Or Is It?

The U.S Fashion Market

NICK CLEGG - (CEO, Federation Clothing)

Former pro-skateboarder, Nick Clegg, launched Auckland-based skatewear label FEDERATION out of his apartment nine years ago, with wife Jenny and brother-in-law Nick Joblin. Since then, they've added FOR GOOD (a fashion-forward boutique line) and MINTI (streetwear for the little ones) to their brand portfolio.

Currently eyeing-up export markets in Asia, FEDERATION boasts stockists across Australasia, the U.S, U.K and Canada. There's also the flagship store in Britomart and an online store selling FEDERATION to 'the world'.

In 2007, FEDERATION made history as the first and only New Zealand clothing label to be in the running for a prestigious Sportswear International Fashion Award. The nomination alone was a huge coup, which opened a lot of doors (particularly in the U.S) and effectively positioned FEDERATION alongside the world's leading street and sports-style brands.

The U.S may be a desirable export market, but Clegg maintains an extremely pragmatic approach to expansion and stands by the best advice he's ever been given: "It's not a race, it's a marathon - one step at a time".

What You Need to Know About Fashion Freight

JASON ORLOP - (Fashion+Textiles, DHL Express)

With a background in personal effects, Jason Orlop joined DHL Express New Zealand from London, having previously managed the bulk export of cotton and minerals in South Africa and, more recently, courier brokerage in New Zealand. Based on his experience, Orlop understands that international competitiveness in the fashion industry hinges on speed; the ability to get your latest designs and re-orders to market as quickly as possible.

DHL Express is proud to champion New Zealand's up-and-coming fashion exporters. The DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship assists emerging designers in realising their potential for international growth.

REGISTER TO ATTEND: 'The Fashion Export Reality Check'

Please contact finz (or) download the registation form and return it (by email or post) with payment details attached. Payment can be made by - direct credit, cheque or credit card (visa and mastercard only).

Registrations close at 5pm on Tuesday, 21 July, 2009.

• nz$95.00 / Full Registration
• nz$65.00 / FINZ Members

VENUE + PARKING

'An Export Reality Check' will be held at the Quay West Suites - 8 Albert Street, Auckland Central. Please take the lift up to the Sinclair Room.

Parking is available at the Downtown Carpark - 31 Customs Street West, Auckland Central. Located just around the corner from the venue, the Downtown Carpark opens at 6.00am and early bird parking applies before 9.00am - (pay the cashier upon arrival - $12.00).

The Fashion Export Reality Check

DHL Express: FINZ Breakfast Seminar

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