Skilled with the needle

By Danielle Galvin
WHAT started out as a small fashion awards event has turned into a launching pad for young fashion designers eager to showcase their sewing skills.
Fashion Awards Australia began running a unique design competition for TAFE and secondary school students entering into the fashion design industry.
While it can be a cruel business, the competition was designed to promote emerging fashion designers interested in a variety of styles and encourage creativity, imagination and hard work.
“Student designers don’t often have the chance to show off their creations, so this is a great way to do that,” said Heather Marcus, director of the Fashion Awards Australia.
The competition culminatesin a regional and grand final. While the awards attract secondary and TAFE college entrants, professional designers from around Australia have been entering into the competition in recent years in the open designers award category.
“This gives emerging designers the chance to learn from the best and get advice from people who have been in the industry for a long time,” she said.
Nine student finalists from each of the six categories will be chosen from the regional final. Heather is also excited that this year, the grand final will form part of Melbourne Spring Fashion Week.
The Fashion Awards committee has also decided to give 12 encouragement awards at the regional finals, and every student will be given a certificate of achievement. Judges on the final awards night will also award one upcoming designer the Young Student Designer of the Year award.
Secondary students will enter into a different competition than TAFE students, who automatically go through to the grand final. Entrants have six different categories to choose from, depending on their own unique style.
Visit www.fashionawardsaustralia.org to enter the competition.