Three up-and-coming Australian designers, among them two QUT graduates, will head to Seoul Fashion Week this weekend as part of the Australia-Korea Foundation Emerging Designer Exchange Program.
They will be joined by three emerging Korean designers who will then ‘return the favour’ and attend Australian Fashion Week in Sydney in May.
Clea Garrick, and Bianca Mavrick, both QUT fashion graduates, and Alice Sutton were selected from a wide pool of applicants for the two-year revolutionary exchange program.
QUT Creative Industries lecturer and leader of the exchange program Melanie Finger said it aimed to develop the designers’ international business and marketing skills including export knowledge and links.
“Participants will develop business strategies and action plans to enter and build marketshare in Australia and Korea,” Ms Finger said.
“This exchange program gives the six designers many opportunities to collaborate and explore new techniques and methods of manufacture.
“They will visit fashion trade events, local industry, attend workshops and be advised throughout the program by leading industry mentors.
“Being immersed in a new culture could influence each designer’s future design interest.”
Clea Garrick is based in Melbourne where her Limedrop label offers a total range from clothing, lingerie, and jewellery to eyewear and nail polish.
Bianca Mavrick is a crafter of contemporary jewellery from sterling silver, resin and wood whose collection has been picked up by the US’s Anthropologie.
"Seoul is an exciting fashion capital and this is a great way to break into the market," Ms Mavrick said.
"I am really looking forward to meeting some industry professionals and seeing all the boutiques and meeting the other designers."
Alice Sutton, based in Canberra, has the sustainable design label, Edition.
The program aims to raise designer innovation, cross-cultural inspirations and international competitiveness and is funded by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, QUT and the Seoul National University.
Media contact: Niki Widdowson, QUT Media, 07 3138 2999 or n.widdowson@qut.edu.au.
