L’Oréal New Zealand announced today that both L’Oréal Professionnel and Redken will be returning to the runway this year as official hair sponsors at New Zealand Fashion Week.

“Not only are we looking forward to collaborating with some of New Zealand’s leading brands again, but with the next generation of Kiwi fashion designers,” says L’Oréal NZ’s professional products division general manager Alisha Smart. “We’re committed to helping these up-and-comers cement their place in the fashion world by working closely with them to bring their designs to life.”

“We also see this as a chance for our salons to get involved and gain invaluable experience working together with our local artistic teams and directors,” says Smart.

L’Oréal Professionnel will be taking on some of the prominent names this year including Maggie Marilyn and Zambesi, as well as creating hair looks for the renowned Fashion Lunch and new generation shows. Redken will be working their magic with fashion partners Federation and Salasai, as well as Tuesday Brand and supporting new generation group shows.

“A major focus for L’Oréal’s Professional Products Division is to continue to drive and define the latest hair (style and colour) trends in New Zealand, so for us it’s the perfect time to shine,” says Smart. “We look forward to providing insight and inspiration into what you can do to change up your best accessory – your hair, in the upcoming seasons.”

L’Oréal Professionnel’s creative team will be led by L’Oréal professional artist, Michael Beel. Known for his creativity and a willingness to share his knowledge with those around him, Beel is dedicated to his craft. He has an eye for Parisian beauty which becomes evident when sending his signature style down the runway.

“This year brings limitless opportunity for our team at New Zealand Fashion Week,” says Beel. “Not only are we excited to be working on the likes of Zambesi, who will no doubt be going big to celebrate their 40 years, but I always look forward to working with new designers – going through the creative process and coming up with an overall look that will finesse their fashion story.”

Leading the Redken team backstage this year is Redken New Zealand creative director Mana Dave. Dave is an award-winning hairstylist whose aesthetic is described as ‘beautiful with an edge’.

“At the moment we’re seeing a huge movement towards women celebrating their natural features including embracing and enhancing natural hair texture,” he says. “This year, we’ll be putting texture front and centre, finding the uniqueness of our models’ hair and creating a more elevated version of it.”

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