BRISBANE: Young labels have the opportunity to access up to three years of business and technical support via a new program affiliated with the Queensland University of Technology (QUT).
QUT Creative Enterprise Australia's (CEA) Fashion Incubator program is a new initiative designed to foster and promote Australia's up-and-coming fashion designers. CEA CEO Anna Rooke said organisers are seeking 15 designers to take part in the program.
“We are looking for commercially-driven fashion creatives who want to take their businesses and labels to the next level,” Rooke said.
CEA's Fashion Incubator will be offered on a residential and non-residential basis, with resident designers to be granted access to studio space and IT facilities.
Both program streams will provide access to showroom space and technical facilities including a on-site sampling Stitch Lab and digital textile printer. Business mentoring will round out the program's offering.
CEA's Fashion Incubator will be broken into two streams, the first for 'start-up' labels that have only been trading for two to three seasons. The second will be for 'emerging brands', or labels that are more established.
The program will be led by Paul Bow, formerly of Billabong, Von Zipper and Element.
The program is the third fashion initiative launched by QUT CEA this year, following on from its pitching forum Creative³ and pop-up shop, The Fleet Store. Designers who have used QUT CEA's facilities include George Wu and Juli Grbac.
Applications for the program close November 30. Designers interested in applying can visit http://www.creativeenterprise.com.au/business-solutions/industry-development/design