Ciaran Naylor stars at iD Dunedin Fashion show

Huge congratulations to Otago Polytechnic Fashion Design graduate Ciaran Naylor for scooping top prize at the 2025 iD International Emerging Designer Awards!

Ciaran was delighted and overwhelmed to win the $10,000 McMillan & Co first prize on the opening night of the iD Dunedin Fashion Show at Dunedin Railway Station. He also claimed the Cooke Howlison Mini Sustainability Award.

(CREDIT: Seen in Dunedin)

"It feels surreal. It genuinely feels like a privilege to be among all these incredible designers from all over the world. And to be recognised for something is insane, it's next level."

His collection, "New Patina", was described as a "reimagining of early 20th-century working clothes in a modern fashion context, blending ruggedness with elegant contemporary male dress."

Drawing inspiration from photographers Dorothea Lange and August Sander, who documented the working class in the mid-1900s, the collection uses predominantly natural fibres; cotton, linen, and wool, and an "upcycled drop cloth" given to Ciaran by his "Pops" which was used for a piece of painted fabric.

Ciaran Naylor was honoured to be  the first Otago Polytechnic Fashion graduate to win the top prize at the prestigious iD International Emerging Designer Awards in 12 years, after Rakel Blom took home the title in 2013.

"All the [Otago Polytechnic Fashion] tutors are just amazing at what they do," says Ciaran.

"I think how they work with students is really important. They are very encouraging and supportive of whatever you want to do. And it show with the work that comes out of Polytechnic."

Dr Margo Barton, Academic Leader of the Fashion Design programme, was overjoyed with the result, but says she wasn't entirely surprised by Ciaran's success.

"Ciaran arrived at Otago Polytechnic in second semester 2021 to study the NZ Certificate in Fashion (Level 4).  Even at that early stage, his meticulous thoughtful fashion designing processes stood out," she says.

"In this graduate collection Ciaran paid great attention to every detail and always undertook designing and making with a contemporary fashion and a sustainable fashion lens."

"This collection, and the iD International Emerging Designers and Sustainability wins, will certainly position Ciaran well for a stellar career ahead, and will in turn benefit wearers of fashion and the industry."

Ciaran was happy to share the iD International Emerging Designers catwalk with two of his fellow fashion graduates, Isabella Dudley-Farnham ("Valley of the Dolls") and Katalia Reid ("Folly"), as well as 7 other recent graduates as part of the Otago Polytechnic showcase.

"It's awesome to have peers here of course. Anything like this it's great to have people you know, and to celebrate with them. It was great to represent the Polytech."

His proud parents Wayne & Cheryl Naylor were among the crowd on Friday night, enjoying their son's success and buzzing after his win. (His Mum told us Ciaran only took up sewing in 2021, but was always a "very creative and organised" young man.)

Ciaran Naylor is congratulated by his father Wayne after his win
(CREDIT: Seen in Dunedin)

Ciaran plans to take a week or two to absorb and enjoy his win.  But he's keen to remain in Dunedin for the next year or two at least, and carve out some room for himself in the city the Titahi Bay-raised designer now considers "home". (Check out his clothing brand Dimock on Instagram)

"The menswear climate in New Zealand at the moment could do with a bit of a refresh," says Ciaran.

"So I think that's part of what the judges saw in me, and what I can hopefully bring to New Zealand, to Aotearoa.. a bit of a shakeup."

Ciaran Naylor with the judges of the 2025 iD International Emerging Designer Awards
(CREDIT: Seen in Dunedin)

WATCH: Interview with Ciaran Naylor - 1st prize - 2025 iD International Emerging Designer Awards:

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Otago Polytechnic is also proud to celebrate with Yu Chen Xu (Shih Chien University, Taipei, Taiwan), who won our sponsored category, the People's Choice Award.

His striking white 3D collection "Camouflage" features innovative knitting techniques like one-piece construction and sustainable materials such as RE PET and light-sensitive yarn.