New Zealand Fashion Week (NZFW) now has a new governing board, assembled by the event owner Feroz Ali, with the aim to oversee a “new direction and reinvigoration” of the Aotearoa event.
Alongside Ali, the board includes newly-appointed director of the board Liam Taylor – former director at travel management firm Jet Black – alongside recently appointed Natalie Xenita, the former IMG VP and managing director of fashion events in the Asia Pacific, and journalist/fashion stylist Dan Ahwa.
Senior PR and marketing specialist Murray Bevan – director and founder of Showroom 22 – rounds out the governing board who will oversee NZFW 2025.
NZFW is heading into its 21st year in 2025, launching at Auckland’s Shed 10 venue from August 25 to 30.
According to organisers, this year’s format will be refined by the new board with the aim of "maintaining relevance and adapting the event’s ability to allow a more inclusive and elastic format.” This includes increasing public access and offering a wider range of online and real-life activations.
“The newly-assembled board brings a refreshing breath of ideas and vision for New Zealand Fashion Week,” Ali said. ‘’Under the experienced guidance of the board and leadership of Liam Taylor, New Zealand Fashion Week will respond to the challenges faced by our fashion industry with the focus of amplifying our New Zealand designers' reach.”
Taylor said he is looking forward to designing an event that caters for a wider range of fashion, beauty and design partners than in previous years.
“I’m really excited about the new board’s collective vision for New Zealand Fashion Week and how I can play my part in moving this iconic event into a new era,” Taylor said.
“Together we have amassed decades of fashion, business, marketing, events and media experience into the leadership group, and I’m confident we will deliver an event that can set a new standard for New Zealand Fashion Week”
Retained from NZFW 2023 will be Tailored Studio covering social media marketing and Satellite – a data management and guest services company. The event was cancelled in 2024 amid a challenging economic backdrop in New Zealand.
“The overarching sentiment is that people do want a Fashion Week that celebrates the tremendous work of our industry - from the pattern makers to the people tasked with selling our designs on the shop floor,” Ahwa said. “As much our designers have had to adapt quickly to a changing market, so has Fashion Week.
“As an event I've grown up with behind the scenes, it's an honour to be part of a board with diverse skills who are tasked with steering the event in a direction that can see it stay relevant for the next generation of fashion leaders."