Full skirts, florals and millinery dominated the catwalk when emerging designers showed off their creations at this year’s Fashion Awards Australia.
Budding designers from around the nation and design students from TAFEs, secondary colleges and tertiary campuses descended on Lakeside Banquet and Convention Centre in Taylors Lakes last Friday to display their works in a range of categories.
White was the preferred choice of colour for many of the entrants, and full-length dresses and longer hemlines were also in vogue among the 345 entries.
There was also a Maleficent-inspired costume in the fantasy category, while Renee Fields of Penola College in Broadmeadows designed floral budgie smugglers.
St Albans Secondary College [SASC] design students missed out on winning the college’s sixth John Claringbold Memorial School Cup by one point, with Ballarat Grammar taking out the top gong on 20 points.
In the individual categories, SASC’s Anh Kim Hoang won the Young Designer of the Year award; Maddison Harwood of Ballarat High won the Rising Star award; Alu Rauf was judged Australian Designer of the Year; Stephanie Henly became TAFE Designer of the Year; Jarrod Thackeray took out the Emerging Designer award; and Mariano Mitungi of Warringa Park College received the encouragement award.
Awards director Heather Marcus said this year’s show was one of the best yet.
“It was a fabulous show,” Ms Marcus said. “The standard for secondary colleges was extremely high this year.
“It’s gratifying for me to know that the Fashion Awards over the 19 years have assisted many students in this difficult industry of fashion and design.
“We’ve also had success with some of our young people in the modelling industry.
“It’s not just about winning; it’s about students having their designs on the catwalk and looking and learning from each other.”
