Melbourne Fashion Hub will launch a pop-up event featuring 10 local fashion design students and recent graduates, from March 21 to 23.
The designers are Abha Gupta, Alexandra Pennell (Atopic Designs), Annalise Joyce, Danielle Carbone, Jessie Cunningham-Reid, Marko Plavsic, Misato Yukimoto, Moira Rodriguez, Tasmin Martin, and Xiaotao Shu.
The featured designers will showcase their collections, each with narratives on various topics such as chronic illness, body autonomy, cultural heritage, and herbal wellness.
Creation Collective Co will serve as the host venue for the event.
Founder Julia Browne said that with the Australian fashion industry “at a critical crossroads” with Mosaic brands going into voluntary administration and labels such as Dion Lee having to close their doors to local manufacturers struggling to retain skilled labour, the future is uncertain.
“Supporting local talent that values people and the planet now more than ever, is essential to creating a sustainable and inclusive industry,” she said.
Browne, founder of Style Shifter Media, said the hub offers an innovative, free, open-access pre-accelerator program to Melbourne fashion students and fresh graduates.