Five emerging graduate designers to look out for in Australian fashion
PHOTOGRAPHER – Renata Dominik
Creative Direction and Styling – Koby Dulac
Styling Assistant – Chloe
Hair AND Makeup – Ana Costa
Model – Julia Strege AT Merci Management
AS TOLD TO DAISY HENRY
The future of fashion.
When I first started working at Fashion Journal, I was often told lore of the student runways. Graduate designers are often some of the most exciting people in fashion, people would say. Soon enough, they would be the ones shaping the industry.
When I finally got to attend the student runway at Melbourne Fashion Week, and then again at Melbourne Fashion Festival, I realised it wasn’t an exaggeration. Every collection felt boundary pushing and innovative, unrestricted by its commercial viability and instead, free to experiment.
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However, if there’s anything I love more than discovering a graduate’s work, it’s seeing an entire photoshoot dedicated to spotlighting a collective of young talent. Captured by photographer Renata Dominik and brought to life by a team of local creatives, this editorial is a combination of the works of five Sydney-based designers. Though you’ll probably know their names soon enough, we suggest staying ahead of the curve and familiarising yourself with their work below.
Cathy Chow
Born in Hong Kong and now based in Sydney, Cathy Chow brings her wild ideas to life through vibrant, joyful fashion. Her latest collection, Entropy, is a playful exploration of order and disorder, inspired by dopamine dressing, acting as a rebellious response to the seriousness of modern life.
The collection features hand-dyed silks, organzas and tulle, layered to create ultra-feminine, colourful pieces that evoke a carefree spirit. With a focus on sustainable materials and ethical production, Cathy blends creativity with conscious craftsmanship. Her work has already garnered attention, showcased at Australian Fashion Week and through collaborations with brands like Frank Green.
Phillipa Signorelli
Blurring the lines between art, technology and design, Phillipa Signorelli’s garments feel futuristic and otherworldly. In her graduate collection Perception, she combines avant-garde techniques like laser cutting and machine pleating with sculptural forms, drawing on inspiration from light artists such as James Turrell.
“I’m constantly inspired by the things around me, such as art, nature and architecture. These elements always find a way into my work, whether it’s through silhouette, texture or mood,” Phillipa says. Featuring six looks, her most recent collection offers an immersive, sensory journey that subverts traditional silhouettes and shapes completely.
Alannah Lee Walton
Inspired by her childhood spent admiring her aunt’s alterations business, former University of Sydney design student, Alannah Walton’s work explores the intersections of clothing, memory and identity. “I want my designs to evoke a sense of nostalgia, warmth and curiosity, reminding wearers of cherished memories while sparking excitement for new possibilities,” she says.
Her latest collection draws on textures, feminine motifs and deadstock fabrics to create pieces that feel both nostalgic and new. Having showcased her work earlier this year at Melbourne Fashion Festival and now interning with Australian label, Madre Natura, Alannah has since been refining and building upon her existing skillset.
Bella Davies
Bella Davies’ designs are defined by unique prints, bespoke embellishments and textured fabrics. Her pieces incorporate artisanal techniques such as hand-painting, beadwork, dyeing and embroidery. A former design student at Fashion Design Studio in Sydney, her work pushes the boundaries by experimenting with avant-garde silhouettes, turning everyday clothing into wearable art.
Having showcased her graduate collection, Keep Space, at Australian Fashion Week in 2024, Bella has since focused on developing her eponymous label and completing her most recent collection, Lighter.
Sara Marta
After debuting at Australian Fashion Week last year as part of ‘The Innovators’, Sara Marta’s graduate collection, Marta, developed in collaboration with textile artisans in India via WhatsApp, featured intricate beadwork, embroidery and lace appliqué, firmly cementing her as one to watch.
A graduate of TAFE NSW’s Fashion Design Studio and former Zimmermann intern, Sara’s design aesthetic is both romantic and eclectic. Her garments, featuring sheer silks, corseted bodices and sharply tailored silhouettes, reflect a tension between softness and structure. “The collection is sexy, delicate, and just daring enough to make you want to run wild through Paris, chase the sun in Mallorca, or sip Negronis all night long in Sydney’s bars,” she says. Now based in London, Sara continues to sharing glimpses of her creative process online.
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