The University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), Fashion & Textiles program will launch an extensive new initiative next week in an effort to further encourage emerging designers.
The institute, which annually hosts a series of runway events to showcase students' work, will soon launch an extension of the program to further promote Australia's budding fashion talent.
The UTS Future of Fashion event, which opens on Tuesday, December 4 2012, will be a multi-stage event, featuring a series of runway shows which will showcase 33 graduate collections across fashion, textiles and media.
In addition, the UTS Future of Fashion event will also mark the launch of UTS: Fashion Space, created for the industry and the general public to converge and experience the creative vision of the UTS graduates’ next crop of innovative young designers.
With an emphasis on innovation and reflecting an ethos that centres around “Think. Do. Change.”, 2012, Fashion Space incorporates a five-day, pop-up installation, which aims to foster personal engagement between the crop of UTS’s creative minds, industry and the wider public.
Alongside Fashion Space, UTS: The Future of Fashion will also launch a limited edition publication featuring each graduating designer’s work, available for purchase on opening night.
Commenting on the development and extension of the UTS fashion focused program, UTS Bachelor of Design in Fashion & Textiles lecturer Todd Robinson said the concept for Fashion Space came about through an ongoing discussion amongst the UTS fashion and textile lecturers and is a direct response to the changing market landscape.
“The teaching staff wanted to focus on creating pathways for students that lead directly into the fashion industry, through employment opportunities, internships, sponsored projects or one-off events or exhibitions, and Fashion Space was a way that UTS Fashion could provide an opportunity for students to show their collections in a purpose-designed space,” he said.
“As a concept it reflects more of a fashion showroom or atelier feel, where a designer is kind of at home, and can show their work in an environment that they control. In this sense the space can do the talking for them.
“UTS are always looking to explore new ways of showing fashion. This reflects shifts in the way designers today communicate with their audiences, be it online, through fashion films or exhibition type projects or events. While the catwalk is still the premier mode of showing fashion, these other approaches enable audiences and customers to engage with fashion in different ways.”
Robinson revealed the Fashion Space will also see catalogues, look books, films, photo shoots on display as well as the garments, with the space designed to be interactive to enable visitors to explore and recognise the students' vision.
“Fashion Space is literally an extension of the Future of Fashion showcase. It takes the collection off the catwalk and lets audiences engage with the next generation of fashion up close. But it is also essentially is a place to explore and discover the creative ideas of the next generation of fashion designers,” Robinson said.
Former graduates from the UTS School of Design include Magdalena Velevska, design duo Bec & Bridge and Alistar Trung. Other alumni have gone further afield to work for international fashion houses including: Alexander McQueen, Calvin Klein, Helmut Lang and Kenzo.
Tickets for UTS: The Future of Fashion runway shows are available for purchase online through Moshtix until December 4; numbers are limited.