Vibrant prints, sophisticated sportswear, feathers and a dash of cheeky lingerie will combine on the catwalk next week as student designers from the Queensland University of Technology showcase their work at this year's fashion graduate show.
The annual showcase marks the fifth year since fashion burst onto the scene at QUT, and is shaping up as one of the most eclectic on record with a parade featuring 13 collections, ranging from contemporary evening wear, tailored workwear and quirky accessories.
Students exhibiting at the graduate showcase Material Thinking follow a fine pedigree of past graduates who have made a name for themselves both nationally and overseas.
QUT fashion portfolio director, Professor Suzi Vaughan, said this year's showcase would highlight the latest crop of stars to emerge from this impressive stable.
"This year marks the fifth anniversary for fashion at QUT, so this year's show provides an opportunity to highlight our current crop of designers and also to reflect on the amazing talent which this course has produced since it's inception in 2002,'' Professor Vaughan said.
"Within the last five years we have graduated 85 students, many of whom have had national and international impact.
"From the likes of Gail Reid, creator of the Gail Sorronda label, to George Wu, whose couture pieces hang in exclusive boutiques throughout the world, we have seen some stunning talent rise through the ranks and this year's group are no exception.
"The calibre of this year's graduate's collections is extremely high and they have all worked extremely hard to present what is certainly one of our most eclectic shows ever.''
For 24 year-old Jacinta Dyer, who already has a law degree under her belt, seeing her graduate collection come together on the catwalk is a dream come true.
She completed her final year of law at the same time as commencing her first year in fashion, and after travelling through Europe last year, completed an international exchange to the Amsterdam Fashion Institute.
Her 40-piece collection eschews the non-colours black and white, as well as pure primaries, in preference for pungent colour combinations ranging from magenta, cyan and chartreuse.
Classmate Joanna Turner takes classic tailoring and high end fabrics and teams it with streetwear for her Slacks for Slackers collection.
"My collection is really just about merging and blurring the boundaries between streetwear and high fashion.
"A lot of the inspiration came from street culture, such as hip-hop and street fighters, which is juxtaposed with some classic tailoring references and high-end luxury fabrics.
To coincide with the fashion parades QUT fashion journalism students will also launch the third annual edition of QUT's fashion magazine frock, paper, scissors.
The 64-page glossy will be unveiled at an official function on November 19 before being distributed to boutiques throughout Brisbane, as well as those attending the parades.
Material Thinking will run from November 19 to 21 at QUT's The Block, cnr Musk Ave and Kelvin Grove Road, Kelvin Grove, at 7pm. Tickets $40 each. For more information call 07 3138 4455.
Media contact: Amanda Vine, QUT media officer. 07 3138 2130. amanda.vine@qut.edu.au
***Excellent, high-res images available for media use***
