The launch of the New Zealand Fashion Festival is off to a spectacular start with tonight's first show entirely sold out.

In all more than 1200 guests will pack into a converted city fringe warehouse to view highlights of 18 collections from some of New Zealand's leading labels for Autumn/Winter 2010. Included in that number is a troop of Auckland's A-List with everyone from TV presenters and movie stars to top rugby players and musicians squeezing in to the show.

Festival co-owner Myken Stewart says selling out that there is a definite buzz around the city and this spectacular inaugural show is a promise of things to come. "The reaction is great. People really want this Festival to succeed and a sold out show is a great way to start," she said.

This year there is only one show in the Fashion Festival lineup to launch the event, and as the festival grows, so will the schedule of events. "Next year will be a much bigger festival," says Myken, "with shows, parties, exhibitions and even an international business seminar," she said.

While all the seats have been sold for the Fashion Festival show there is still the opportunity to head down to The New Zealand Herald Designer Garage Sale this weekend, March 20 and 21.

Fashion conscious bargain hunters will flock to the Viaduct Harbour Marine Village for the sale as more than 30 designers clear final summer stock at dramatically reduced prices.

Designer Garage Sale spokesman Paul Blomfield said there will be around $ one million in fashionable stock on sale this season. "As the event approaches we're getting more designers calling to be part of the sale and hits on the websites and blog are growing each day," he said.

"This will be a fabulous weekend of fashion," he said.

Top designers in the sale include Ruby, Ed Hardy, Chaos & Harmony, Lonely Hearts, Sabatini, Michael Pattison, State of Grace, Federation, Worldwear, Stitch Ministry, Deborah Sweeney, WeSC, Kagi and more.

For a full list of labels see www.designergaragesale.co.nz. Tickets can be bought through www.iticket.co.nz and at the door.

The Fashion Festival thanks Sponsors: The New Zealand Herald; official print media partner, George FM, Cloudy Bay Pelorus NV Pandora Jewellery and Tresemme.

Adrian Hailwood, Andrea Moore, Annah Stretton, Barkers, Cybele, Helen Cherry/Workshop, Ed Hardy, Huffer, Juliette Hogan, Kate Sylvester, Moochi, Paula Ryan, Stolen Girlfriends Club, The Carpenters Daughter, Trelise Cooper, Yvonne Bennetti and Zambesi.