Young and eager

Young and eager

It's hard to be a young designer in New Zealand right now, but the Westpac Young Fashion Designer competition is looking to help out those who are starting out in the industry. The competition returns for another year,Selling shoes, Dad taught me to see work as a calling , with entries now open to students who are currently completing a New Zealand fashion-based tertiary course or who have graduated from one within the past four years.

The winner will take away $5000 in a Westpac business account, mentoring from a New Zealand designer and invaluable business advice from an expert - and three finalists who get the most public votes (or "likes") on Facebook will get the opportunity to show their collections at New Zealand Fashion Week on September 1. It offers a good start into the industry - last year's winner Jess Britten now works as the production manager at Lonely Hearts.

The Warehouse has created two special sterling silver pendants to support Christchurch, each featuring the iconic Christchurch Cathedral.Each pendant is $29.99, from 50 per cent of the purchase price being donated to St John to help them in their relief efforts in the troubled southern city.Starfish is further embracing its eco-friendly take on fashion with a great new initiative that will allow customers to refresh their wardrobes by trading in pre-loved Starfish or Laurie Foon garments and receiving a 50 per cent discount on the original retail price of the winter 2011 collection.

Starting tomorrow and running until July 17, the initiative will see selected exchanged stock become an in-store vintage rack, and the rest donated to Wellington charity Eva's Attic. Have a passion for Pandora? Then you will be excited to hear they have launched new bracelets that allow for unique personalisation like the original Pandora charm bracelets. The new styles - the clip ($125) and the chain ($155) - are simple, with fixed clips that attach to the bracelet to celebrate special moments in your life. Charms are $49. Available from selected Pandora stockists now, ph 0508 NZPANDORA.