Tuesday was MFF future fashion overload: the National Graduate Showcase back-to-back in the REB with the first ever public runway of National Designer Award finalists. Both shows projected such a fragmented view of future fashion it’s tricky to predict a single trend trajectory but, one common denominator sang through them all; sustainability. Fashion’s freshest designers, in other words, are formulating their own solutions to the horrors of fast, nasty production systems.
In this mix of both shows, VoxFrock Journalist Evan Lim tapped through the (NGS) National Graduate Showcase‘s extraordinary line-up of talent from Australia’s top fashion education institutions, and photographer Monica Dragut crewed to shoot the favorites from among them all including NGS designers Alannah Walton, Anjali Tulpule, Cuong Nguyen, Ethan Bergersen, Frank Taplin, Indigo Stuart, Joanna Youn, Madeleine Triggs, Marko Plavsic, Suzaan Stander, Wilson Jedd Adams and RMIT graduate Zachary Zhang who won the community choice award sponsored by Emporium and Fashion Journal. From the six freshexceptionals who made it all the way to the National Designer Award finals, Amy Lawrance took out the top title for 2025, Saskia Baur-Schmid was awarded an honorable mention for Sustainability for her Hyph-n label, and Ana Pipkorn of Lovaan studios won the People’s Choice prize from a field including Alix Higgins, All is a Gentle Spring, Boteh, Christopher Hrysanidis, Jude, Liandra and Madre Natura. Congratulations on steroids. Now, scroll down to meet VoxFrock’s own stars of future fashion journalism and photography, Evan Lim and Monica Dragut, and keep clicking back here and here for daily MFF updates. We’re here all week; bon appetit!
Words: Evan Lim Photographs: Monica Drague
Sustainability was a given for the 12 emerging designers showing in the National Graduate Showcase. Designer Ethan Bergerson from the University of Technology Sydney in his collection Ecdysis, for example, used materials such as dyed wool and recycled plastic in lieu of leather and fur.
RMIT graduate Anjali Tulpule’s modular bridal pieces, were designed to be worn beyond the wedding day, able to be transformed into items like a skirt or jacket. Sustainability beyond their initial life. The carmine red and rich embroidery featured in some of her pieces, hints to her inspiration; the Indian sari.
RMIT graduate, designer Indigo Stuart took another approach, posing the question of what makes a garment one that an owner would cherish. Her answer was both in the form of the design — the tartan bringing up notions of heritage — and in how the garments are made; woven using a hand loom.
Another thread repeated by these designers was their referencing of the past. University of Technology Sydney graduate Alannah Walton’s collection draws from her Chinese heritage and from her childhood, with the floral prints and colour palette evoking feelings of whimsy and nostalgia.
UTS graduates Joanna Lee and Changmin Yun, in their label Joanna Youn reimagine figures in historical Korea like the The Sun Girl which features in Korean mythology, to real ones like gisaeng, female artists trained in music dance.
Trapunto quilting features in RMIT graduate Cuong Nguyen’s designs. The craft originated in Sicily in the 14th century and was used by Cuong to create raises in the wool meant to imitate muscles, his collection intending to question notions of masculinity through clothing.
Dressage was the inspiration for RMIT graduate Madeleine Trigg’s collection, juxtaposing the leather that typically composes the attire with the more delicate silk organza material. She also incorporates the elements of appliqués and hair in her pieces, the latter of which can be seen snaking through her garment pieces or on top of a handbag.
Meet the VoxFrockers
Monica Dragut, photographer
Monica is a photographer, stylist and emerging creative director with a background at the Whitehouse Institute of Design. Her work blends fashion with surreal, unsettling elements. Monica’s focus is conceptual, high-contrast imagery that pushes the boundaries of fashion photography while staying true to her distinctive style. This is Monica’s first tour on the VoxFrock Rookie Crew.
Evan Lim, journalist/photographer
