Australian Fashion Week has revealed the winners of its emerging designer program, Next Gen 2024, presented by DHL.
The winning designers will debut their collections on Monday, May 13 at 11am in Sydney.
“We’re excited to announce this year’s talented Next Gen winners who were selected for their pursuit of creativity and innovation,” IMG fashion events and properties APAC VP and managing director Natalie Xenita said.
“The program creates opportunities for emerging designers to establish and scale their business through Australian Fashion Week’s global platform.”
Next Gen was established in 1996 and has since discovered and launched the careers of leading industry names such as Akira Isogawa, Anna Quan, Bec and Bridge, Camilla and Marc, and Sass and Bide.
The Next Gen prize is valued at over $100,000 and includes runway show production by IMG Focus - a content package including runway photography and livestream - and international shipping credits provided by DHL.
The four winning designers also receive industry networking opportunities, exposure to Australian Fashion Week’s attending buyers, and invaluable marketing, publicity, digital and social media support to reach a global audience.
IMG’s 2024 Next Gen winners include:
Amy Lawrence: Founded in Melbourne in 2020, the eponymous label pushes escapism and storytelling through the medium of clothing. It works with a material palette of un-dyed silks with pieces designed and produced with minimal waste.
Emily Watson: Emily Watson is a demi-couture swim and resort wear label from Melbourne focused on the intertwining of swimwear and avant-garde design practices, with additions of ruffles, ties, and patchwork bikinis.
House of Campbell: Established in 2019 by Adelaide-based designer, Abby Potter, House of Campbell marks contemporary femininity by blending traditional couture techniques with prêt-à-porter fashion. The label has a focus on Australian-made.
Potirakis: Established in 2021, Potirakis is an interactive fashion project aiming to design and develop a fictional world in support of wearable and collectable products. The brand takes inspiration simultaneously from both 2000s video games and corporate lifestyles.
Winners were chosen from a panel of 13 judges, including David Jones GM of womenswear, footwear and accessories Bridget Veals, Net-A-Porter market director Libby Page, and Song for the Mute designers Lyna Ty and Melvin Tanaya.
Australian Fashion Week 2024 is presented by Pandora and will take place from May 13 to 17 at Carriageworks in Sydney.