UTS fashion graduates lead the runway at Australia’s biggest industry event

UTS was well represented at this year’s Afterpay Australian Fashion Week (AAFW), with staff and recent graduates showcasing their talent in the internationally recognised industry event. 

Celebrating his 20th year in fashion, third-year tutor Gary Bigeni presented his beautifully bright new collection, Modern Love. Vibrantly hand-painted, sustainably produced and entirely gender-neutral, Gary’s pieces are designed to reflect the distinctive personality of the wearer.  

Fellow third-year tutor and honours graduate Alix Higgins presented his second AAFW show, Delectable Earth Shudder, a futuristic collection receiving praise across fashion media publications. With a diverse, inclusive casting from Alix’s personal community, UTS alumni could also be spotted walking the runway in his impressive works. 

Debuting her first show at AAFW, 2020 honours graduate Caroline Reznik presented a Black Swan-esque collection that closed out the week. Caroline’s work has already been embraced overseas and worn by the likes of Doja Cat and Kendall Jenner, but her Australian Fashion Week debut has captured attention on home soil. 

Next Gen 

UTS honours graduates have also exceeded in the Next Gen Showcase, established to identify Australia’s emerging design talent and judged by a panel of influential industry experts. To be considered for Next Gen, designers are required to demonstrate innovative use of fabrics and textiles as well as a commitment to sustainable and ethical practices. 

It’s no surprise then that three out of four of the prestigious awards were taken out by Cameron Hill, Ruby Pedder and Xixi Wu, an exciting achievement for our alumni community.

Cameron Hill is redefining knitwear with her collection launch. Produced with a combination of hand and machine knitting, her sleek artisanal pieces are crafted from natural fibres and designed to last, rejecting fast fashion trends. 

Ruby Pedder showed her poetic take on ‘casual couture’ using natural biodegradable fibres. Her made-to-order work is already a favourite of a handful of Australian musicians including Genesis Owusu and Confidence Man. 

Xixi Wu of Wu Studio presented an immaculately tailored collection. Her genderless pieces are a blend of Eastern and Western garment techniques, using wool and cotton as well as synthetic fibres that come from deadstock and upcycled materials. 

Established in 1996, the Next Gen show also helped launch the careers of UTS alumni and established brand Bec + Bridge and UTS research supervisor and acclaimed designer Akira Isogawa. Following in their footsteps, our honours graduates are continuing to push boundaries in fashion, presenting strong and original offerings to the Australia fashion landscape while also showcasing their values of innovation and sustainability.

As the fashion industry recovers from the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and looks ahead to the future, it is affirming to see so many UTS honours graduates achieving on a local and international stage. 

Discover the UTS School of Design