VAMFF: National Graduate Showcase Presented by Target

The National Graduate Showcase, presented by Target, is hands down the most exciting runway of the festival. The energy was bouncing off the walls in the small shed in the Docklands. Media, industry representatives, fashion teachers and students alike flock to this event. Not only is it a showcase of the student’s collections, but attending the event is a fashion statement in itself. This is the event where the public lets their hair down and true fashionistas are found. Observing everyone’s outfits is almost half as exciting as watching the actual show.

12 students from universities all over to Australia are chosen out of hundreds to have their final collections displayed on the runway. One designer is then chosen by a panel to work in collaboration with Target to create a range to sell in their stores nation wide. It’s a fabulous opportunity for these next generation Australian fashion designers, not only to display their work, but to also get their foot in the door of the fashion industry. Here is a peak at all their beautiful collections from the night’s runway.

Monique Duggan, Optic

60s pop art inspiration, hand painted digitally manipulated neoprene, and organic silhouettes to contrast hard lines have been used.

Megan McGrath, Straight Outta Compton

Street hip-hop influence, lots of colour, embellishment, glitter, graphics and dramatic oversized garments.

April Yap, CTRL-C

A representation of the visual culture of China Town, where prints have been have been derived from her own photos and the checks which come from the transparent layer on Photoshop.

Eric Deluchi, Holonymy

Creating a relationship between garments, and the illusion of two garments being one.  There is an emphasis  on wearability and simplicity. 

Alexandra Hackett, A.L.C.H

Notion of a retail store and everything inside of it, through use of materials such as dye tags and price tags. Focus on crime and surveillance with cheeky slogans and text.

Vanessa Emirian, Circulate

Obsession with the circle, from the silhouettes that create 3D sculptural garments to the hand cut circles which were used for needle felting the material. 

Sofie Teh, dePomp

Influenced by traditional Vietnamese culture, mixed with fun prints and colours. Focus on lengthy process of creating hand painted silk fabrics.

Rachael Zheng, L I L T

Looked into the work of photographers, such as Ellsworth Kelly, to create easy luxury garments that can be draped and tied around the body. Bold placements of colour create a contrast.

Donald Chung, Resist and Exist

Inspired by the military and propaganda culture in Korea, and communicated through monochromatic colour palettes and the boldness of fluro red.

Felicity Gleeson, Trace

Beautifully crafted fabrics which have a natural feel represent the beauty in imperfection, in combination with organic silhouettes.

Lauren Acciarito, Flor

The idea of foam and its spongy consistency has been combined with a digital floral print to create abstract forms. Femininity has been mixed with masculine elements.

Natalie Kieleithner, Tacenda

The sensory deprivation of blindness was the influence. Red is said to be the first colour lost when someone is turning blind. Perforation, laser cutting and braille have been used to heighten touch sense.

I wish all the best of luck to the finalists, whoever wins is well deserving of such a wonderful opportunity.

- Sarah

 *Mosaik does not take credit for any of the photographs in this article. Photographs by Lucas Dawson