BTS: How the NZFW 2025 Campaign Came to Life

For the first time in over five years, New Zealand Fashion Week has unveiled an official campaign, and it’s as much about energy and emotion as it is about aesthetics.

Directed by NZFW Board Member and Creative Advisor Dan Ahwa and captured by renowned photographer Mara Sommer, the New Zealand Fashion Week 2025 campaign is a fresh reflection of the event’s reimagined spirit.

New Zealand Fashion Week 2025

“The NZFW 2025 campaign is in step with the times,” says Ahwa. “Nothing overly pretentious or intimidating. It’s simply about celebrating the feeling of fashion, whether it’s one of joy or empowerment.”

That sentiment is echoed in the casting. Rather than focusing on one ‘face’ of the event, the campaign embraces diversity with eight distinctive talents representing the evolving face of fashion in Aotearoa. Featured in the campaign are Adam Banoori, Carrie Berkey, Molly Dennis, Juliette Perkins, Kaarina Parker, Sophie Song, Vinnie Woolston, and Yasmine Mohamud.

“Casting was challenging,” Ahwa admits. “How do you find the one face that represents this new era of NZFW? It’s impossible. The eight unique models selected represent the shape of fashion now and in the future.”

Shot with an understated but confident lens, the campaign offers a glimpse into a more inclusive, authentic, and expressive fashion week – one that honours individuality and connection just as much as creativity and commerce.

The NZFW 2025 campaign is not just a visual – it’s a signal of where New Zealand fashion is headed: bold, thoughtful, and proudly its own.

Photography: Ruby Hamilton @rubyjhamilton

NZFW 2025 Campaign

Find the first wave of announced designers HERE and grab your NZFW 2025 tickets here before they’re gone!

CAMPAIGN CREDITS/HANDLES:

Creative Direction – Dan Ahwa @danahwa

Photographer – Mara Sommer @marasommer

Makeup – Kiekie Stanners @kiekies__ 

Hair – Sara Allsop @saraallsop

Nail Artist – Erica Gillet @gelous.co

Photography Assistant – Josh Szeto @joshszeto_

Styling Assistants – Levi Tan @levii.tan & Daf Nimkovsky @dafnimkovsky

Hair Assistant – Josh Scott @joshuascotthair

MODELS:

Sophie Song @sophiesong

Vinnie Woolston

Kaarina Parker @kaarina.parker

Juliette Perkins @julietteperkins_

Adam Banoori @adambanoori

Molly Dennis @mollykatedances

Carrie Berkey @carrieberkey

Yasmine Mohamud @yasminemohamud