The TAFE NSW academy has selected Anna Westcott, Emma Mulholland, Charlotte O’Carrigan and Leah Hibbert to take part in the annual ‘Innovators’ showcase at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week in May. It is the only Australian fashion school to be invited to present graduate collections at the trade event each year.
Head teacher Nicholas Huxley, who has trained some of the country’s leading designers, confirmed the four candidates were all recent graduates of an Advanced Diploma of Fashion Design.
“These four girls were chosen because their end of year ranges showed a fresh, innovative and diverse mix,” he said. “They have a great work ethic and I trust in their professional attitude. They have a true understanding of the business side of fashion and I have great expectations for their future.”
Hibbert said her Fashion Week collection will feature a strong focus on colour and prints, with accents of hard and soft textural embellishments such as oversized clear quartz beads and dangling rectangular clear cuts of perspex, which have been sewn on skirts and dresses. The 22-year-old said most silhouettes have been left simple and clean, leaving the focal point on the sharp internal lines, textures and folds.
“One of the key pieces, a long-sleeve grey wool dress, features spine-like laser cutting running throughout, with a bright digital print peeking through,” she said.
Meanwhile, Westcott describes her ‘Phos’ collection as “structured yet soft”, with hand-woven silk roping detail featuring heavily on tailored jackets and dresses.
“The collection is based on how light refracts through water and creates distortion. I have worked with distortion through creating two surrealist prints playing with scale and colour."
Mulholland, 23, has drawn on her upbringing on Australia’s south coast and created an eclectic collection featuring digital prints, tie-dye, sequins and accessories.
“I’m so excited to be part of The Innovators show this year,” she said. “I have watched for years as other students and friends have experienced the benefits and excitement of being part of it. It is going to be a lot of hard work but it will be worth it to show Australia what I’m capable of.”
Rosemount Australian Fashion Week will take place at Sydney Harbour’s Overseas Passenger Terminal from May 2 to 6.
Assia Benmedjdoub