Victorian designers have dominated the list of finalists in the latest instalment of Fashion Exposed's emerging designer competition, Debut.
Of the 12 finalists, six hail from Victoria, while Queensland, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) are also represented.
All finalists are competing for the chance to win a prize package that includes a free stand at the February 2012 instalment of Fashion Exposed.
Finalists from Victoria include Catherine Leon's eponymous apparel label, which made its commercial debut earlier this year, and designer Shalini Coelho and her womenswear label Coelho.
Other finalists from the garden state include RMIT University graduate and womenswear designer Sonya Kran; renowned corset designer Shehzarin Batha; and label Vinyl Cuts Jewellery, which makes accessories out of old records.
Design duo Zoe Sandow and Jessica Yorston of eccentric young women's fashion label Stella Blanche round out the list of Victorian finalists.
Womenswear label Stepfanie Michelle will travel from Western Australia to take part in the Debut competition, as will nature-inspired jewellery label TotoMoto.
Czech Republic-born and now Queensland resident Sharka Bosakova will submit her 'Shadows of Your Garden' apparel collection for judging, while fellow Queenslander Nomiki Glynatsis will exhibit her couture jewellery pieces.
Finalists from the ACT include Canberra Institute of Technology graduate Sophia Vardos and the designer behind apparel label Trace, Emma Chilman.
Debut has been part of Fashion Exposed since 2006, helping to launch the careers of over 130 designers since its inception.
Labels that have entered the competition in years past include Brisbane label Subfusco, five-year-old label Alexi Freeman, unisex Melbourne brand Trimapee and colourful womenswear label Holly Chalmers.
The winner of the 'best new apparel label' category at the most recent Debut competition in March 2011 was Where Lovers Lie, by Victorian designer Annelies Love-Linay.