NATIONAL DESIGNER AWARD PRESENTED BY DAVID JONES
Australia’s most
prestigious fashion award
Presented by
Entering its 28th year, The National Designer Award presented by David Jones celebrates the creativity and excellence of Australian fashion designers in their first five years of business. Past winners include some of the biggest names in Australian fashion such as Christopher Esber, Dion Lee, Romance Was Born, Alémais, P.E. Nation, Toni Maticevski and Strateas Carlucci.
As Australia’s most established and prestigious fashion award program, the National Designer Award highlights the future of Australian fashion, providing finalists with opportunities for mentorship, networking and critical industry exposure.
Finalists and one winner are chosen by a panel of esteemed industry judges and the winner is the designer who best demonstrates vision and cohesion in creativity and design; adherence to high quality manufacturing standards; high attention to detail; strong business acumen; and a genuine commitment to addressing environmental and social impact.
The prize consists a of $20,000 cash and high value business development support that provides the winner with the resources needed to assist in growing their brand and business. In recognition of the industry's pressing need for positive change, one deserving finalist will also be awarded with the Honourable Mention for Sustainability in acknowledgement of their dedication to sustainability, clear in both their product and overall business ethos.
In addition, a People’s Choice Award allows fashion enthusiasts and consumers to get involved by submitting an online vote for their favourite finalist.
2024 Industry judging panel
FASHION FILM AWARDS
Elevating Fashion
and Film Globally
Official Screening Event: February 2024
Now in its 12th year, the Fashion Film Awards is an internationally recognised platform for fashion filmmakers to amplify their remarkable work and shines a deserving spotlight on fashion film as a key communication platform for both fashion designers and filmmakers.
PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival extends an invitation to filmmakers of diverse backgrounds and experience levels to submit their work for the coveted Awards, with prizes that provide unparalleled exposure to a diverse Festival audience, substantial online recognition and an exclusive email introduction to Beatrice Bloom, President and Managing Director of the London Fashion Film Festival.
Award categories:
Best Fashion Film: Open to all professional and amateur film-makers and agencies from around the globe
Best Student Fashion Film: Open to applicants who are currently enrolled in a Fashion or Film-related course, or who graduated between June 2021 and June 2023 so long as the submitted film was made as part of their student work.
2024 Industry Judging Panel
An esteemed panel of industry experts bring visionary leadership, creative direction, innovation, and artistic insight from various corners of the entertainment sector.
Essential Information
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A highlight of the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival program, our exclusive award night will be held in February 2024 and will celebrate some of the most creative and captivating work in fashion film today. The night welcomes film enthusiasts, media, and industry experts to join the crowning of our triumphant winners.
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12 September 2023 Fashion Film Award applications open
2 November 2023 Fashion Film Award applications close
22 November 2023 Applicants notified of application outcome
Date TBC 2024 Attending PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival Film Award Screening event
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For full Terms & Conditions, click here.
If you have any questions related to the Fashion Film Award application process, please contact us at programming@mff.com.au.
NATIONAL GRADUATE SHOWCASE PRESENTED BY EMPORIUM MELBOURNE
Creativity at
its boldest
Entries closed 1 December 2023
The National Graduate Showcase shines a light on Australia's top fashion design graduates each year. Handpicked by a highly credentialed panel of fashion industry practitioners, ten graduate collections will feature on our Premium Runway, brought to life by the industry's best stylists and event producers.
A true highlight of our Industry Development Programme, the National Graduate Showcase celebrates creativity in its most bold and innovative form.
In addition to having their collections presented to a live audience of 1,500 consumers, media, curators, designers, buyers and opinion-makers, design graduates are also integrated into PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival’s national marketing and media activity – amplifying their work on a grand scale.
2024 Industry Judging Panel
Essential Information
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The applicant must be in the final year of their tertiary bachelor's or postgraduate degree at the time of application, graduating between June 2023 and June 2024 (2023 mid-year graduates will be accepted).
The applicant must be enrolled at an accredited Australian tertiary education facility in a fashion design-specific course.
The applicant must have 4+ complete looks that form a capsule collection for judging and showcase.
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Unique Vision: The applicant’s submission demonstrates a unique vision, excellence in design and fashion innovation.
Production Quality: The collection is produced with a high level of production quality and attention to detail.
Cohesive Collection: The selected garments present a cohesive collection.
Contribution Potential: The applicant demonstrates the potential to contribute to the future growth of the Australian fashion industry.
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27 Oct 2023 – Applications Open
1 December 2023 – Applications Close (11:59pm)
7 December 2023 – Judging Day
11 December 2023 – Applicants informed of outcome
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If you have any questions related to the National Graduate Showcase 2024 application process, please contact us at programming@mff.com.au.
For full Terms and Conditions see here
FASHION WRITING MENTORSHIP
The Future of
Fashion Journalism
At the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival, we are dedicated to nurturing and supporting emerging talent in the field of fashion writing. Our Fashion Writing Mentorship program provides a concrete pathway for aspiring fashion writers and students to gain real-world industry experience while making invaluable connections within the fashion journalism landscape.
Mentees in our program will be handpicked by a distinguished panel of australian journalists, granting four exceptional applicants the privilege of attending and covering Premium Runways, exclusive launches, and various festival events as official festival reporters. Their written work will find a home on the festival's own social media and digital platforms, reaching dedicated audiences and influential media outlets.
Leading up to the festival, each finalist will engage in a comprehensive fashion writing mentorship under the guidance of our esteemed judges. This mentorship is designed to facilitate the refinement of their writing skills and provide continuous feedback, ensuring they are well-prepared for the dynamic realm of fashion reporting.
The PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival embraces a diverse spectrum of writing styles, inviting writers to submit a selection of short fashion-related writing samples for consideration. We are committed to celebrating and promoting the work of these emerging talents, providing a platform where fresh voices in fashion journalism can truly shine.
2024 Industry Judging Panel
Essential Information
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Finalists will be notified of their place in the top four on the 18 October and will be introduced to their assigned mentor via email in the days following.
The Mentorship will take place in the lead up to the Festival, consisting of four one-hour sessions (one per week) in the month of November. Each finalist will receive two writing assignments that detail the written pieces they will need to submit to the Festival as part of the program.
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Benefits for Finalists:
Finalist will be given access to a selection of 2024 PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival events
Invitation to the official PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival launch event
Extensive promotional integration of work across the Festival's own social media channels with a reach of 146,700 followers.
Editorial integration on Festival social media and digital platforms
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Applications will be reviewed in the following areas:
Unique perspective: Written work demonstrates a unique perspective
Understanding of fashion: and a comprehensive understanding of the fashion industry
Writing style: The applicant demonstrates a strong and distinctive writing style
Contribution potential: Writer shows potential to contribute to the future of fashion writing in Australia
Application requirements: The applicant has met all submission requirements detailed in this information pack.
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18 September 2023 – Entries open
6 October 2023 (5pm) – Entries close
9-16 October – Judging period
31 October 2023 – Announce winners
1-30 November 2023 – Mentorship Commences
23 February – 9 March – Festival Reporting Period
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If you have any questions related to the Fashion Writing Mentorship application process, please contact us at programming@mff.com.au.