Karen Walker’s surprise return to new-look New Zealand Fashion Week 2025

Karen Walker announced her return to New Zealand Fashion Week after nearly a decade away from the runway. Walker praised the event’s new creative vision and flexible format, allowing diverse presentations. The 2025 event will focus on inclusivity, relevance, and sustainability, with plans to feature collaborations with hospitality venues and major music labels.

The country’s best-known fashion designer has announced a surprise return to New Zealand Fashion Week: Kahuria – almost a decade after she quit runway shows here and overseas. Karen Walker CNZM told an industry gathering last night she said an immediate “yes – we’re in” after hearing plans for the reimagined event, scheduled to take place in Auckland from August 25-30. “And the reason we’re in, is this vision has creativity at its heart.



This vision is not 35 looks trotting up a runway.” A “30-second elevator pitch standing at the kitchen bench eating chips” was all it took to convince her, Walker said..