NZ designer apologises for using war medals

By Belinda Goldsmith

SYDNEY (Reuters) - A leading New Zealand fashion designer apologised on Wednesday for using Australian and New Zealand military medals on her catwalk models at Australian Fashion Week which has angered war veterans.

Kate Sylvester was blasted by the Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL) for using replicas of medals awarded for service in Vietnam, Korea, World War Two and the Crimean War in her show on Tuesday that was titled "Royally Screwed".

Derek Robson, the national secretary of the RSL, said this was insulting for servicemen and women, particularly coming just four days after Australia and New Zealand came to a halt for ANZAC Day to honour those who fought and died for their country.

"Many people in both countries wear the medals from World War Two, Vietnam or Korea and they are not going to appreciate their particular adornment being paraded around in this insulting and unnecessary manner," Robson told Reuters.

"I appreciate the importance of fashion week and the need for this designer to create an impression but this is beyond me."

He said both the designer and the promotes of the 13th annual Australian Week Fashion, which started on Monday, apologised on Wednesday but he questioned their judgment in the first place for allowing this to happen.

Sylvester, who is one of New Zealand's biggest fashion names with her label sold in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United States, released a statement saying she was sorry for any offence she had caused.

"There was no intention of showing disrespect for returned servicemen, for whom I have the deepest amount of respect. I sincerely apologise to anyone I may have unwittingly offended," said the statement.