![A Part of Me: Debut finalist. [Main image: Divya R by fellow Debut finalist Divya Rao.]](http://yaffa-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/ragtrader/images/dmImage/StandardImage/A part of me - mid.jpg)
An emerging designer competition which has helped launch over 140 young Australian labels, has confirmed its finalist shortlist for 2012.
The Debut competition, run as part of the Fashion Exposed trade fair, has selected Kate Brook and Kajsa Kvernmo, Divya Rao, Kim Stark, Penelope Gibbs, Betty Tran, and Alex Monte-Vasta as the seven fledgling fashion and accessory designers who will compete this year.
The designers, from across Victoria, Western Australia and New South Wales, will vie for a prize package valued at $3,000, including a stand at the next Fashion Exposed event.
Their respective collections, APOM (A Part of Me), Divya R, Emiti, Hokum Scarves, Betty Tran, and Alex Flamingo will be judged by a panel of industry professionals on the opening day of Fashion Expose (August 26), with the winner to be announced on August 28.
Debut has previously acted as a launch pad for several Australian labels, which are now well-known, including Alexi Freeman, Limedrop, Trimapee, Subfusco, Catherine Leon and Since Grey.
To view the finalist's collections, head to ragtrader.com.au's Facebook page.