The Dunedin Fashion Incubator will move to the Otago Polytechnic on 26th January 2009.

After seven successful years helping both emerging designers and fashion businesses, the Fashion Incubator is being relocated to the Otago Polytechnic in a move to achieve synergies with the Otago Institute of Design, and the Design Department. The team at Upstart are delighted the Fashion Incubator has found such a good home where it will be able to keep working with Dunedin’s thriving fashion community.

Over the years there have been many highlights with 13 full time business clients, and hundreds of Outreach and Hatchery clients. Clients have shown at both New Zealand and Australian Fashion Weeks, and a number of clients now sell widely throughout the country and offshore.

This year one of our full time clients, Sarah MacDonald and her label Doe-a-Deer, won the Otago Chamber of Commerce business award for Design with their innovative mix of functional, design led clothing for women who hunt, fish and work in the great outdoors.

The team at Upstart look forward to following the progress of all our graduates, and those transferring to the Polytech, confident that Dunedin will remain at the forefront of the fashion industry, and proud to have played our part.