For over 60 years, TAFE NSW Fashion Design Studio (FDS) has produced some of the biggest names in the Australian Fashion Industry. This year, top performing graduates from the Bachelor of Fashion Design will launch their collections on the catwalk at The Innovators show as part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia (MBFWA).

Central Coast local, Sarah Moore is one of six TAFE NSW graduates who will showcase their resort collection in The Innovators show on Monday 13 May.

Sarah’s contemporary fashion label, Manon aims to challenge, provoke and confront the consumers’ beliefs through hauntingly beautiful clothes that act as an essential element to growth and personal evolution. Contrasting gender fluid tailoring with subtraction cutting and innovative textiles development, Manon aims to create forever wearable garments. Sarah’s graduate collection titled “My Shadow Self” is based upon the work of 20th century philosopher Carl Jung who examined the “Duality of Man”. The collection explores Jung’s shadow theory within the contemporary fashion landscape.

“I wouldn’t get to show my collection on a runway if it wasn’t for TAFE NSW. Participating in MBFWA is a great opportunity to expose my brand to industry, and a great starting point to get my label out there to kick start the brand.

“During my time at TAFE NSW, I was fortunate enough to receive an equity scholarship as I was travelling up to four hours each day from the Central Coast to attend class at TAFE NSW Ultimo. This scholarship helped me financially achieve my dreams of becoming a fashion designer.

“I’ve been working at independent Australian label, SHONA JOY on and off for the past two years. I’ve just secured employment with swimwear brand Ephemera as a studio assistant and am loving every moment so far,” said Ms Moore.  

The Graduate Show, now in its 21st year, has earned a reputation for being one of the week’s “hottest shows,” and is an important launch pad for emerging Australian fashion designers both locally and internationally. With a list of alumni that reads like a ‘who’s who’ of Australian fashion, the TAFE NSW Fashion Design studio is a fashion school of excellence. Consistently ranked in the top 30 fashion design schools worldwide, TAFE NSW has over 60 years of experience in educating fashion industry professionals.

The Bachelor of Fashion Design is a degree like no other. Internationally recognised, the degree gives students the start they need to pursue a career across all facets of the international fashion industry. Graduates of the program are highly sought after, not only because of their creativity and innovation, but because they possess the necessary technical and job ready skills required by industry.

The TAFE NSW teachers at FDS were impressed with the graduates work, selecting this group of unique individual designers to showcase their designs at the exclusive Fashion Week event.     

“The students have produced such high quality work, and it’s very satisfying to see that kind of diversity coming through. AT TAFE NSW, fashion design is taught through active engagement in the craft of fashion. Students explore new ways to re-interpret or re-invent this craft through collaborating with fashion and textile artisans and exploiting new technologies to support the realisation of original signature collections,” they said.

As the only fashion school in Australia to present graduate collections at MBFWA, TAFE NSW is proud to introduce the new generation of creative fashion designers to industry.

Many of the designers will go on to work for leading international labels, with past alumni heading to the likes of Dion Lee, Nicky Zimmermann, Genevieve Smart, Luke Sales and Anna Plunket, Ainsley Hansen, Karla Špetić, Gary Bigeni, Bianca Spender and Christopher Esber.

Media contact: Laura Kelly, TAFE NSW Media & Communications Business Partner, 0411 777 676 or laura.kelly40@tafensw.edu.au