MORE THAN $8000 IN PRIZES
Overall Grand Winner: $2000
Director's Award: $1000
Section Winners (Sections 1, 3, 4 & 5): $750
Section Winner (Section 2): $350
Emerging Artist Award: $500
Creative Use of Materials: $500
Student Encouragement Awards: $1000 (in total)




Section 1: Lost Oracle – Beneath the Waves
The spell of the sea has caught me in its net of wonder forever

With the vast ocean as your inspiration, create a garment that tells a story about life beneath the waves. Raise from the bottomless seas a mythical or magical creature, a memory of Atlantis or a hero of the deep. Reveal an eco-warrior, ocean explorer or a ghostly wreck. Whether your tale is ancient or contemporary, from the reef, the abyss or the expanse in between, be bold and innovative – play with the most unusual combinations of luminosity found in the oceanic world, using shape and colour as your guiding light.
 

Section 2: The Hoodie (single garment section)
Sometimes I just need to hide

Take a historical view of hoods and capes, when enigmatic characters travelled from place to place, shrouded in mystery and disguise. Today humans still take comfort in covering the head to create an aura of secrecy and withdrawal. Inspired by the current utilitarian streetwear trend, create a garment that covers the head, using a cloak as a silhouette or a cutting-edge combination of past centuries’ shapes and 21st century hardware.

 
Section 3: Night Journey – Clothes for Travel (black light section)

City commuter, wilderness explorer, time traveller, seafarer, intergalactic tourist, spiritual voyager...  All travellers find themselves in the liminal space of uncertainty between departure and arrival. It is in this space that the ferryman awaits and requires of us a commitment: Are you coming or not? Designers must nominate when, where, and why they are travelling and design a fit-for-purpose garment that illuminates under ultraviolet light.
 
 
Section 4: Video Killed the Radio Star
The show must go on. Inside my heart is breaking... But my smile still stays on (Queen)

Resplendent with signature make-up, iconic costume clothing, outrageous hair and dramatic dance moves, rewind to the glitz and glam of the video era, when the radio star became visible. Retro fashion meets state-of-the-art as designers are challenged to create the hyper-real persona of a music video idol. Strive to shock and dazzle by interlacing old mediums and technologies with contemporary electronic textile applications such as 3D components, soft circuit LED lighting, digital screens or the latest indelible inks.
 

Section 5: The Girl with the Sun in her Face

Just as the sun’s rays bless all living things without judgement or favour, we too must radiate our inner light upon the world. From shining mythical gods and goddesses to the benefactor of golden harvests, glimpsed as life-giving deity or awe-inspiring sphere of fiery plasma, the sun has always been a source of wonder. Designers are asked to create a glorious garment that celebrates the sun in any of its manifestations.