2015 DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship

2015 DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship

DHL Express, the world's leading international express services and logistics company, is calling for entries for its sixth annual DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship, giving emerging Australian fashion designers an opportunity to chase their dreams of international success.

The winning designer will receive a prize package that includes $10,000 worth of international freight and DHL Express mentorship to supercharge their export strategy and ready them for the world stage. In addition, the winner will have the opportunity to fly to New York to attend Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, receive mentoring from IMG Fashion USA, and meet with an international buyer to present their collection.

Gary Edstein, Senior Vice President of DHL Express Oceania, said the company is proud of its commitment to the fashion industry both locally and internationally: 'DHL is really proud of how the Scholarship has grown over the last six years, and how it has helped young Australian designers achieve international success. Last year we saw the biggest number of entrants in the Scholarship's history, and we expect to see it grow again this year."

'By offering the chance for the winner to attend the DHL Exported show at New York Fashion Week, we are able to take advantage of our global network of partners such as IMG Fashion to provide our winner with a priceless experience, while preparing them to become a contender in the future."

DHL Exported is a global collaboration between DHL and IMG Fashion, combining DHL's logistics capabilities with the global marketing platform of the world's top Fashion Weeks. Established designers from all over the world are invited to submit applications for showing in New York, London, Milan or Tokyo. In addition, DHL Exported will provide a venue and cover the production costs for designers to debut their collections for two consecutive seasons in the corresponding city.

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.

The Scholarship is open to all aspiring Australian fashion designers and labels that have been exporting their label for less than four years, and will be judged by an industry leading panel of fashion and logistics experts.

Since winning the Scholarship last year, Michael Lo Sordo's career has reached new heights, from having his collection featured on the David Jones runway, to receiving an invitation to feature his designs at Paris Fashion Week 2015.

The Scholarship will be judged by DHL Express, along with Emily Weight, Director of Strategy & Brand, IMG Fashion, and Prue Lewington, Fashion Editor, Sunday Telegraph.

Application for the Scholarship will open from April 6 – April 30. To enter the 2015 DHL Express Fashion Scholarship, visit www.dhl.com/fashionscholarship