There are many competitions available to Australian fashion and textile designers and design students
Some have generous prizes that lead to greater opportunities. Each of of the State-based fashion festivals have awards. Others are conducted by government, industry bodies, colleges and private entities.
BT Emerging Fashion Designers Award 2013
Up and coming Australian Fashion Designers aspiring to grow their businesses will get the chance to win a cash prize of $10,000 and work with some of Australia's most iconic fashion designers as part of a bold new initiative driven by BT Financial Group.
Congratulations to Christopher Esber, this year's winner! See some great photos from the Runway Show over at www.vogue.com.au.
LMFF National Designer Award
Australia's most prestigious and highly regarded fashion award for emerging design talent. Past winners of the Award include Toni Maticevski, Friedrich Gray, Josh Goot, Yeojin Bae, Romance Was Born, Dion Lee, Song for the Mute, Christopher Esber.
Congratulations to this year's winner, Melbourne menswear label From Britten!
The Textile Institute National Student Design and Technology Awards
The annual TISA design and technology competition is for full time fashion students across Australia. It provides students with the opportunity to participate in an exciting competition that brings together industry partners and potential employees - the future of the TCF industry.
TISA provides the unique opportunity for the winning student to study overseas at the prestigious Paris American Academy.
RMIT Bachelor of Fashion Design student Lois McGruer-Fraser was awarded the Grand Prize at the TISA Awards Ceremony on 29th November 2012. Stay tuned to the TISA website for news on the 2013 awards.
Australian International Design Awards
Presented by Good Design Australia, the Australian International Design Awards are one of the longest standing and most prestigous design awards in the world. Categories include Sport and Leisure (includes sporting apparel, running shoes, camping gear and leisurewear) and Architecture and Interiors (includes textiles and object design).
Fashion and Accessories category added for 2013!
View the 2012 winning entries here.
NOW OPEN - 2013 entries close Thursday 28th March.
Australians in New York Fashion Foundation Internship
The philosophy of the Australians in New York Fashion Foundation is to help young Australians gain world-class, hands-on experience in New York, and return home with internationally recognised training and contacts.
Congratulations to 2012 winner Tim Watson, of Mount Lawley, Perth!
Stay tuned to ainyff.org for news about 2013 applications.
Banksia Environmental Awards
Regarded as the most prestigious environmental awards in Australia, with multiple categories including Water; Clean Technology; Leading in Sustainability (Large Organisations); and Leading in Sustainability (Small to Medium Businesses).
2012 Winners & Finalists are up at www.banksiafdn.com.
Register for Banksia's newsletter to be kept up to date with 2013 Awards information.
Premier's Design Awards (Victoria)
The Premier’s Design Awards celebrate Victoria’s design capabilities and businesses that invest in design, by highlighting design’s contribution to business success through increased market share, financial sustainability, and environmental and social outcomes.
2012 Finalists are up at www.business.gov.au - including Collingwood-based fashion brand cylk, using seamless knitting technology to minimise fabric wastage and energy consumption.
Premier's Sustainability Awards (Victoria)
The Premier’s Sustainability Awards are Victoria’s most prestigious environmental awards ceremony. The Awards recognise and reward Victorian businesses, institutions, communities and individuals that are forging a sustainable Victoria now and for the future.
2012 Winners & Finalists are up at sustainabilityawards.vic.gov.au
Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards 365 - Fashion category
The Qantas SOYA 365 Awards - Fashion category - offers fashion designers aged 18 - 30 the chance to leap to the next level with a trip of a lifetime and a mentorship.
Sydney designer Michael Lo Sordo took out the Fashion award in 2012.
Sign up to the SOYA 365 newsletter for info about the 2013 awards.
The George Alexander Foundation/ISS Institute Fellowship
Awarded annually, the George Alexander Foundation/ISS Institute Fellowship is an overseas fellowship open to technical/trades people and artisans under 35 years of age to further develop their skills, knowledge and experience and assist in the reduction of skill deficiencies in key Australian industries.
Subscribe to the ISS mailing list for news about upcoming fellowships.