Last week, overlooking Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour at OKAHU, the second annual FQ Fashion Awards unfolded beneath a full winter moon. Presented by Fashion Quarterly in partnership with Lexus, Samsung and Schweppes, the black-tie affair celebrated a cross-section of Aotearoa’s fashion ecosystem – both its rising voices and its enduring pillars.
Hosted by broadcaster Laura McGoldrick, the evening brought together designers, editors, stylists, and creatives to honour the people shaping the past, present and future of local fashion. And while the champagne flowed and the music swelled, there was a quiet reverence threaded through the night – a collective recognition of the work, storytelling and vision that goes into making fashion in this country.
Claudia Li Takes Designer of the Year
Internationally celebrated and fiercely rooted in narrative design, Claudia Li was named Designer of the Year, presented by Dulux. With her distinctive fusion of sculptural silhouettes and emotionally charged prints, Li continues to expand the dialogue around diaspora and identity in fashion. This September, she’ll return to Aotearoa to show at New Zealand Fashion Week, in what is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated shows of the season.
Kate Sylvester, a name synonymous with New Zealand fashion, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award, brought to you by Lexus, in a poignant moment that acknowledged over 30 years of shaping the country’s sartorial sensibility.
A Double Honour for Amélie
This year belonged to Natalie Robb, the designer behind Amélie, who received both the Rising Star Award (presented by Newmarket Business Association) and the Emerging Designer Award. Alongside industry recognition, the latter includes a six-month residency at The Shelter, strategic support from Someday Studio and PH Digital, and a $50,000 media package from Fashion Quarterly. Her delicate, romantic tailoring and thoughtful construction mark her as one to watch – and now, one with the support to build something lasting.
Recognising the Vanguard
New to 2025 was the Visionary Vanguard of the Year, created to spotlight the often-unseen creatives – producers, art directors, stylists, set designers – who shape the visual language of fashion. The inaugural award, presented by Schweppes, went to Te Wiki Āhua o Aotearoa, an independent, underground fashion week championing new narratives and diverse talent across the motu.
Style, Community and Craftsmanship
From custom Ruby gowns to sculptural Harris Tapper tailoring, the red carpet felt like a curated exhibition of contemporary New Zealand fashion. Many guests chose to wear homegrown labels, underscoring the awards’ deeper intention: to support the entire fashion ecosystem – from emerging labels to legacy brands, and the many creators who exist in between.
As FQ’s Editor-in-Chief Sarah Murray noted in her opening remarks, “These awards are not just about celebrating excellence – they’re about recognising the full breadth of what makes fashion possible in Aotearoa. The creativity, the culture, the craft. It’s a powerful thing to bring everyone into one space to honour that.”
2025 FQ Fashion Awards – Full Winners List
-
Designer of the Year — Claudia Li (brought to you by Dulux)
-
Lifetime Achievement Award — Kate Sylvester (brought to you by Lexus)
-
Emerging Designer Award — Amélie (Fashion Quarterly)
-
Rising Star Award — Amélie (brought to you by Newmarket Business Association)
-
Visionary Vanguard of the Year — Te Wiki Āhua o Aotearoa (brought to you by Schweppes)
-
Fashion Retailer of the Year — Ruby (brought to you by One Music NZ)
-
Content Creator of the Year — Lauren Brodie (brought to you by PH Digital)
-
Model of the Year — Isabella Moore (brought to you by Rabanne)
-
Stylist of the Year — Rachel Morton (brought to you by Bared Footwear)
-
Photographer of the Year — Guy Coombes (brought to you by Samsung)
-
Make-up Artist of the Year — Lochie Stonehouse (brought to you by 200 Doors / Dermalogica)
-
Hair Stylist of the Year — Danny Pato (brought to you by Joico)
-
Jewellery Designer of the Year — Alice Herald
-
Footwear Designer of the Year — Commonplace Essentials
-
Bag Designer of the Year — Yu Mei
-
Sustainability Initiative of the Year — Untouched World (brought to you by Kowtow)
-
Fashion Writer of the Year — Emma Gleason
-
Videographer of the Year — Greta van der Star
-
PR Person of the Year — Tatum Savage
-
Contribution to Māori Fashion — Noa Blanket Co
-
Contribution to Pacific Fashion — Ohn
-
People’s Choice Award — Oosterom (brought to you by La Roche Posay)
Photography: Hope Patterson and Katie Begbie
