APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED

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The National Graduate Showcase x Emporium Melbourne is a highlight of the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival programme, a thrilling celebration of bold creativity and boundary-pushing innovation.

As a key part of the Festival’s Talent Development Programme, this showcase is a game-changing opportunity for graduates to launch their careers into the spotlight. 

Open to students in the final year of their tertiary bachelor or postgraduate degree, graduating between June 2024 and June 2025, this programme will provide an opportunity for critical exposure and networking to support the kick-start of a future in the industry.  

Chosen through a rigorous nationwide selection process, 10 students will be selected by a panel of esteemed judges to have their captivating work shown on a world-class, highly produced Festival runway. National Graduate Showcase x Emporium Melbourne will sit within the Premium Runway Series as part of the Festival’s core programme, and be attended by industry heavyweights, media, consumers and fashion lovers alike. 

To be considered as an applicant for our National Graduate Showcase x Emporium Melbourne, please submit your entry via the APPLY HERE button and ensure you’re eligible and available on the key dates specified below.

Applications closed.

Please reach out to the Programming team if you have any questions.

KEY INFORMATION

  • Applications closed.

  • 3 October 2024 – Entries Open  

    8 November 2024 – Entries Close  

    20 November 2024 – MFF Nominations 

    29 November 2024 – In-person judging day 

    3 December 2024 – Applicants notified, and 9 finalists invited for collection review 

    6 December 2024 – Finalists confirm collection review appointment  

    9 December 2024 – Collection reviews with stylist (online) 

    13 December 2024 – Finalists notified of outcome  

    16 December 2024 – Agreement form due and handover to Event Gallery  

    4 March 2025 – National Graduate Showcase Runway 

  • Application Requirements

    A completed Awards Force online application form, including submission of: 

    1. A design statement detailing the creative rationale of the collection. 

    2. A current designer biography. 

    3. 4+ complete looks that form the applicant's capsule collection. 

    4. A digital folio (submitted through the online application form): 

    Digital Folio Requirements

    1. Photographs that show your 4-look collection, (front facing wide, back facing, wide shot, close up of fabrication details) (4 pages) 

    2. Minimum 4 images of previous work or past collections (1 page) 

    3. Mood board for collection (1 page) 

    4. Collection line up fashion illustration (1 page) 

    5. Optional: Any further creative examples you wish to present to the judges (including sketches, imagery, or written documentation (max 3 pages) 

    • Applicants must be in the final year of their tertiary bachelor's or postgraduate degree at the time of application, graduating between June 2024 and June 2025 (2024 mid-year graduates will also be accepted) 

    • The collection must have a minimum of 4 looks to present to the judging panel  

  • Each weighting number denotes the maximum number of points attainable within the respective category. 

    • Unique Vision: Unique vision, excellence in design, ground-breaking innovation [40] 

    • Production Quality: High level of production quality and attention to detail [30] 

    • Cohesive collection: The selected garments present a cohesive collection [30] 

    • Inclusion in world class Festival Premium Runway as part of the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival core programme 

    • Major PR exposure through integration into National Graduate Showcase x Emporium Melbourne marketing and social media campaign 

    • Content package including runway photography and show video 

    • Suite of VIP invitations to the 2025 Festival’s premium events, including the 2025 PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival official launch event 

    • Inclusion of one look from your collection featured in a public installation in Emporium Melbourne

    • Emporium Melbourne Graduate Sponsorship Programme, opportunity to be offered to 1 finalist from the National Graduate Showcase x Emporium Melbourne

  • View full terms and conditions HERE.

JUDGING PANEL

General Manager Brand & Marketing,
Vicinity Centres

AMY WOTTON

Amy Wotton is an accomplished marketing professional with 15+ years’ experience and has spent much of her career working in the fashion retail industry. Amy has a keen interest in nurturing emerging local creative talent. 

Vicinity Centres is a forward-thinking real estate business with $24 million of retail and mixed-use shopping centres under management across a national portfolio.

Chief Executive Officer,
PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival

CAROLINE RALPHSMITH

Caroline Ralphsmith – known to all as Ralph – has had a rich and layered career that started over 30 years ago in manufacturing, flowed through to finance, strategy consulting, insurance, sport, and major event leadership, and ultimately led to the fabulous Melbourne Fashion Festival today. 

However, the foundations remained consistent - a relentless focus on problem solving, creativity, innovative thinking, strategy, teamwork, a can-do approach and having fun. 

KARINDA MUTABAZI

Karinda Mutabazi came to styling by way of stage performance, music management, film production/development, and theatre costume. Her work has been informed by years of international experience in London, New York, and Los Angeles. 

Karinda champions community and has built a creative family who inspire, inform and support her work. Karinda divides her time between fashion, music, TV, editorial and live events.  

Creative Director & Fashion Stylist 

GIULIA BUGLIERA

Managing Editor, Fashion Journal

Giulia is the Managing Editor of Fashion Journal where she drives the creative direction and strategy. She has a background in both print and digital publishing across fashion, lifestyle, beauty and culture, and a professional background in family law.

Giulia’s work combines a passion for women’s interests and issues with a deep understanding of what makes Australian audiences tick.

TONI MATICEVSKI

Creative Director, Toni Maticevski

Toni Maticevski has built a brand on a vision of feminine desires and artful silhouettes. For over two decades, Maticevski has defied trends and survived as one of the greatest unannounced drivers and inspirers of modern women’s fashion and design.

Dressing the female form with the most alluring of silhouettes, Maticevski dreams of fashion as art to wear, as a companion to a life filled with beauty.

BLAIR ARCHIBALD

Fashion Designer, BLAIRARCHIBALD

BLAIRARCHIBALD set up a design studio in 2013 to facilitate a contemporary menswear brand offering ready-to-wear tailoring and sportswear. The brand has received numerous accolades such as the International Woolmark Prize, the BT Emerging Designer Award and the Victorian Premier's Design Award.

The brand now focuses purely on made-to-measure, working directly with clients on custom orders for events and weddings.