Designers land $10,000 prize

Models flank Miranda Scott-Simmonds, Jacob Scott-Simmonds and Tina Patrick of the Nyne label. Photo / Supplied

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.