Four designers are named winners of DHL Exported Cycle Two

Leading logistics provider DHL and IMG announced recently that Marcel Ostertag of Germany, Sid Neigum of Canada, Atsushi Nakashima of Japan, and Portuguese-born Marta Marques of the United Kingdom are the winners of the DHL Exported Cycle Two Program.

Their win gives them the chance to grow their brands internationally and show their Fall/Winter 2016 and Spring/Summer 2017 collections on global fashion stages. As part of the program, DHL Exported is offering business strategy consultancy, and public-relations and social-media support, to help them expand their business.

The announcement came after the DHL Exported Cycle One designers, after taking on new markets, reported significant increases in sales, as well as international coverage and media interest.

One of them, Milan, Italy-based Francesca Liberatore, who showed her collections in New York, noted a 400-percent increase in her business’ e-commerce. Another, Nicholas K, who did his show in Milan, experienced a 50-percent sales growth from the previous year.

“The overwhelming positive feedback we received from the DHL Exported Cycle One graduates emphasizes the value and sustainability of the program. It was a great pleasure to see talented designers expanding into new international markets and growing their businesses,” said Arjan Sissing, senior vice president (SVP) for corporate brand marketing of the Deutsche Post DHL Group.

“Now, four new designers are about to start on a similar journey. As the most international company in the world, we are excited to offer them our expertise and support on their path to international success,” he added.

Acceptance of applications to the DHL Exported Program began on July 8 and ended on July 31. Finalists were chosen by a panel of industry veterans and logistics experts. Designers were asked to select a fashion-week stage for presenting their collections, based on their business expansion strategy. For each show, a committee of regional experts reviewed the applications and chose the designer who showed the most potential to succeed.

“The selection process was extremely difficult this year, with many talented designers from around the world applying for the invaluable opportunity that DHL Exported offers,” said Catherine Bennett, SVP and managing director of IMG Fashion Events & Properties.

“The decision came down to designers who not only demonstrated themselves as skilled artists, but also demonstrated the proper infrastructure to support international expansion. We look forward to working with these up-and-coming stars and helping them grow their businesses globally,” she added.

Along with a guaranteed spot on an important fashion week, designers will receive two fully funded and produced runway shows, and DHL will also provide logistics advice, and cover international shipping and exporting of hard goods related to the delivery of their collections to New York, London, Milan or Tokyo for their runway debut.

Ostertag will present his collection during New York Fashion Week; Neigum, London Fashion Week; Nakashima, Milan Fashion Week; and Marques, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Tokyo; The first three fashion events will take place in February and September 2016, while the last will be held in March and October 2016.