Song for the Mute has emerged triumphant in this year's L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival (LMFF) Designer Award.
The contemporary menswear label, created by former graphic artist Melvin Tanaya and Italian-trained fashion designer Lyna Ty, beat out fellow finalists Arnsdorf, From Britten, Lui Hon, Dress Up, Bassike, Laurence Pasquier and Ellery. The label has released a total of three collections since its foundation and is stocked by just a handful of retailers including Rag & Bone (NSW) and Fallow (QLD).
As winners, Song for the Mute will receive $10,000 in cash and a trip to either Premiere Vision trade show in Paris or Pitti Filati trade show in Florence. The prize is valued at a total of $20,000.
The LMFF Designer Award was created to recognise emerging fashion design talent, and 2011 represents the first year the award was staged on a public runway. Previous winners include labels Dion Lee, Romance Was Born, Josh Goot, TV, Yeojin Bae and Toni Maticevski.
LMFF is a consumer fashion festival celebrating its 15th year in 2011. The event will run until March 20.