N.Z. fashions export success

Press, 31 August 1985, Page 14

N.Z. fashions export success

NZPA staff correspondent, CHRIS PETERS

New Zealand high fashion designers have been tipped to take more than $982,500 in orders from the two fashion shows that have launched the first major drive into the Australian market.

Organiser, expatriate New Zealander Nola Byrne, expects at least $655,000 of orders before the end of the present buying season in four or five weeks, with about half as much again to follow over the next few months. The shows in Melbourne and Sydney, that are expecting to cost more than $131,000 when all the final bills have been paid, featured 10 of New Zealand’s top designers and creations that will sell on either side of the Tasman at up to $l3OO each. Within two days of the Melbourne show last week the designers took more than $137,550 of definite orders. While Mrs Byrne said the results in Sydney had not been quite as good, there was still plenty of work to be done.

“I expect orders to total around sAustsoo,ooo by the end of the season in a few weeks, with about half that again over the following months, depending on how well the New Zealand companies fill the orders and keep up the quality,” she said yesterday. The spectacular parade of garments that drew standing ovations in Melbourne, also brought yells of delight