Are you a fashion student, emerging designer, or just looking for greater recognition for your brand?
For new designers, getting an enterprise or career off the ground can be challenging, so it’s important to maximise every opportunity available, to be seen and make a name for yourself in the intricate world of fashion.
If you’re just starting out, some quick tips to boost your success:
1. Grow and Stay In Touch with Your Network – Maximise your network of contacts working in the fashion industry by checking in regularly. It’s sometimes the only way to hear about quick-filling and last-minute collaborative or job opportunities
2. Develop Your Business Acumen – as most entrepreneurs will tell you, being a small business owner is like having 5 jobs all at once. Smaller operators need to be able to financially run a business, hire staff or contractors, negotiate a lease agreement, implement a marketing plan and so much more. There are lots of great business skills top-up courses available in case you discover any gaps in your degree. Even if you’re not looking to go it alone, being business-minded is a great career asset allowing you to contribute to the profitability and sustainability of your chosen brand.
3. Find or Create a Niche – Find a niche and make it yours! Fashion culture is as broad and as varied as the people who wear it, so choose an area of personal passion to hone your expertise, and make your mark on the industry.
4. Enter Design Awards & Competitions, Apply for Grants – The recognition, financial rewards, networking and PR opportunities offered by design awards and competitions are unparalleled, and have been responsible for launching the careers of some of today’s biggest names.
Designer Runway – Image: flaunter.com
We’ve rounded-up 8 of the Top Design Awards and Competitions, Emerging Designers need to know.
Gain global exposure and sky-rocket your career with these local and international design competitions, all open to Australian applicants.
1. BT Emerging Fashion Designer Award
Supported by the Australian Fashion Council, the BT Financial Group’s Emerging Fashion Designer Award is one of Australia most highly sought-after achievements. Since 2013, this well-regarded competition aims to identify and showcase promising Australian talent and provides the winner with a financial benefit as well as access to mentoring.
The award for the competition is $100,000, access to two high-profile fashion events and two editorial shoots, amongst other prizes.
Alumni – 2019 Finalists – Minhee Jo of Aaizél, Courtney Holm of A.BCH, 2019 WINNER – Blair Archibald. Past Winners; Albus Lumen (2018) Kacey Devlin (2017), Macgraw (2016), Emma Mulholland (2015), Michael Lo Sordo (2014) and Christopher Esber (2013).
Eligibility – The BT award is open to womenswear and unisex fashion designers who have produced a minimum of three seasonal collections, and have traded for under seven years.
How to Apply – Applications for 2020 will be open from August 2019. Forms and further conditions of entry are available at the BT Runway website.
2. The Redress Design Award
The Redress Design Award is a one-of-a-kind award dedicated to sustainable fashion. It recognises and awards designers who specialise in sustainable fashion. Applicants are tasked to create unique designs for the JNBY Group brand with the winner awarded a position at JNBY for a year, including three months in China working with the world’s best designers, mentors and policymakers to learn more about sustainable fashion practices.
The 2019 finalists’ designs will be exhibited in Hong Kong between October and December 2019, after which the winner will be chosen.
The Redress Design Award also offers an Alumni Award to previous editions’ finalists and semi-finalists. The applicants for the award are eligible to receive a 12-month Showcase membership to the CO platform, offering extensive visibility in the online fashion world. With a wide range of rewards and recognition each year, you can view the whole portfolio of prizes here
Alumni – Up-and-coming Australian designer Tess Whitfort was the winner of the 2018 award, cementing Aussies as the front-runners in sustainable fashion and innovation. For the who’s who of this sustainable fashion competition – see the alumni profiles
Eligibility – 18 years or over. Hold a valid residency for your home country (open globally). Three years professional fashion design experience or a current fashion student.
How to Apply – Applications will re-open in June 2020.
3. Frankfurt Style Award – International Talent Contest, Fashion & Design
The Frankfurt Style Award is a fashion and design competition based in Germany, open to designers and students from around the world.
The winners will receive international recognition, trophy, and a division of the total prize pool of 10,000 Euros. The award is divided into the three lifestyle categories, “Urban” “Earth” and “Adventure” and open to applicants in category of ‘Students’, ‘Master Class’ and ‘Newcomer’.
The major award winner will receive € 1,500 and a scholarship to masters course “Art Direction for Fashion Design and Haute Couture” at The Haute Future Fashion Academy Milano.
Alumni – You can view past designs and winners on their Hall of Fame
Eligibility – Entry is open to all designers in three classes, Students who are currently enrolled at fashion & design school, Master students, Newcomer/Alumni with own label and finalists of past FRANKfurtstyleawards.
How to Apply – Applications for the 2020 event will reopen soon. The 2019 competition will culminate on June 29, following a catwalk show, winner selection and the prize distribution ceremony.
4. International Fashion Design Awards
The International Design Awards were created by a handful of designers, thinkers and entrepreneurs, as a response to “the lack of recognition and celebration for smart and sustainable multidisciplinary design.”.
The annual winner receives a good amount of publicity including publication of their work in the IDA’s Annual Book stocked in museums worldwide, a trophy, a certificate, an exclusive interview and a mention in the institute’s partner, sponsor and sister-websites.
Entries Open 31st May and close October each year.
Alumni – View previous year’s award winners here.
Eligibility – The award is open to professional and student designers over a huge range of fashion categories. Work submitted must have been created within the last 5 years and will be judged by their panel.
How to Apply – Photos submissions can be made online, along with the entry fee.
5. Australian Fashion Foundation Scholarship Awards
The Australian Fashion Foundation (AUSFF) is known for helping new Australian designers gain world class, hands on international experience. The Scholarship Awards offer students and graduates the opportunity to be recognised on a global scale and travel abroad for an internship with one of the world’s best known fashion houses.
The two winners selected will each receive a $20,000 USD grant, and a six month internship with a prestigious fashion powerhouse in New York or Europe. Past internships have been secured with names like Diane von Furstenberg, Calvin Klein and Alexander McQueen.
Applications open in October each year with winners announced in December.
Alumni – RMIT Graduates Helena Dong and Amanda Nichols were the 2018 award recipients. Other past recipients are here.
Eligibility – Applicants must be Australian citizens (or permanent residents) over the age of 18 and currently enrolled in or a recent graduate of a degree program, or have 3-5 years work experience in a related field.
How to Apply – Prepare your application early by viewing all the entry criteria here.
6. Apex Australia Teenage Fashion & Arts – Youth Festival
Apex Australia Teenage Fashion & Arts (AATFA) Youth Festival is a unique opportunity for secondary students interested fashion and design to demonstrate their skills in a competitive series, over four categories.
AATFA Youth Festival is open to all schools throughout Australia and are segmented by State. Students will compete at a state level, with successful applications proceeding to the the National Final held in Melbourne. Pre-judging and runway events start for the 2019 competition start in October. Winners will receive national recognition and press coverage.
Eligibility – If you are aged between 12 to 19 you can enter your designs and creations at your state’s finals.
How to Apply – 2019 Applications are now open. Complete the Online form and submit entry fee. More information is available at www.aatfa.org.au/state-finals
7. National Design Award (VAMFF)
The Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival (VAMFF) and their presenting partner David Jones acknowledge designers in their first five years of business who display excellence in design, manufacturing standards, business practices and innovation, with the National Design Award selection.
Their selection criteria has fared well recently with sustainable fashion business models, and recently recognised established brands Aarnsdorf and Mndatory as 2019 Finalists. A new addition in this category was also announced in 2019, being the “Honourable Mention of Sustainability” with the prize of mentorship with the sustainability team at David Jones.
The National Design Award winner receives national recognition, a place on the VAMFF Gala Runway, and a business development prize pack valued at over $100,000
Alumni – Past winners of the award include Christian Kimber, P.E Nation, Macgraw, Toni Maticevski, Yeojin Bae, Dion Lee, Song For The Mute and Romance Was Born.
Requirements – Australian designers in their first five years of business who excel in design, manufacturing standards, business practices and innovation are eligible.
Applications not applicable (n/a) – An application process is bypassed and instead finalists are hand-selected and evaluated by a panel of industry names like VAMFF CEO Graeme Lewsey, Vogue Australia Editor-in-Chief Edwina McCann, Harper’s BAZAAR Australia Editor-in-Chief Eugenie Kelly, Designer Bianca Spender (in 2019), and David Jones executives to name a few.
VAMFF begins 1st March of each year.
8. AFC Curated – Incubator Program
Not a design award, but the perfect culmination of this list is the Australian Fashion Council, emerging designer AFC Curated Program which offers independent Australian Labels the chance to participate and take advantage of their collaborative industry network.
“The AFC Curated program will assist in building your label profile, selling your product and growing your business to last.”
Successful applicants will participate in high-profile pop-up retail installations and receive the benefit of AFC’s mentoring program. “We want to bridge the gap from ’emerging’ to ‘established’ & see more labels succeed in building and growing sustainable & profitable businesses.”
Alumni – Notable sustainable labels launched through this program include; Lois Hazel, Tasi Travels, NICO Underwear, Salty Fox, Ivi Made, SZN, A.BCH, Remuse and Citizen Wolf, to name just a few.
Eligibility – Emerging Australian Labels who have been in operation for 2-5 years. Membership fee if accepted costs $2,000 for the year.
How to Apply – The 2019 intake is currently closed however applications are accepted year round for the next opportunity – a 12 month duration for successful participants. Apply here.
About the AFC Curated Program:
Header image: BT Runway 2018. Logo images courtesy of respective event holders.
YOUR TURN!
Emerging Designers – Was this information helpful? Are you thinking of applying?
Established Designers – Is there one piece of advice you would offer a new or student designers?
Know an award we missed?
We love reading your comments below, thank you for sharing!
