The annual BT Emerging Fashion Designer Awards were held last night, crowning Melbourne-based designer Blair Archibald as emerging Australian designer of the year. Runners-up for the award were Minhee Jo of Aaizél and Courtney Holm of A.BCH also commended by BT and the Australian Fashion Council.
With the fashion industry focusing on supporting longevity and sustainability in design, Blair Archibald’s incorporation of these elements was well received by the judges — a panel of industry experts. Blair’s 2019 runway collection was made with local production partners and highly considered fabrics. His designs thoughtfully reflect the shifting away from gender-specific garments with softly tailored linear pattern making and a mix of silhouettes.
The award was originally established to assist emerging designers with a plump package valued at over $100,000 that provides with them financial, legal and industry support as well as $10,000 cash and flight packages to help them grow their business. Previous winners include Albus Lumen, Kacey Devlin, Macgraw, Emma Mulholland, Michael Lo Sordo and Christopher Esber.
Congratulations to Blair Archibald!