Budding designers Catherine Leon and Cynthia Ellis have smashed competition at the Melbourne Debut design awards to take out the top prizes in their respective categories.
Debut, run as part of the Fashion Exposed trade fair, has been a launch pad for over 130 young Australian labels since its inception in 2006, with past winners including established brands Alexi Freeman, Donna Sgro, Trimapee, Subfusco and Holly Chalmers.
This year, Leon, who launched her eponymous label in April, won the apparel category with designs that judges described as “cohesive, beautifully balanced, polished with professional presentation, and with major market potential”.
In the accessories sector, Ellis, founder of WA-based jewellery label Totomoto Australia, emerged triumphant, with judges describing her pieces as “ beyond fashion with a brave aesthetic, thematic, sculptural, and beautifully executed with diverse appeal”.
Both designers will now have the chance to exhibit their collections at the next Fashion Exposed trade fair in Sydney for free, with the winner's prize including a complete stand package valued at $4,000, as well as a 12 month subscription to Fashion Trend Magazine.
Fashion Exposed is a twice-yearly event run by Australian Exhibition & Conferences (AEC), where the fashion industry meet, source and buy collections from over 1500 diverse Australian and International brands, at one destination. The Melbourne autumn/winter fair, is currently running at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre from August 28-30, with the spring/summer instalment to be held in Sydney next year.
For more information go to: http://www.fashionexposed.com