I always eagerly await the announcement of the Next Gen winners. These are the up and coming designers we will see on the catwalk as part of the Afterpay Australian Fashion Week’s Emerging Designer Program. This year sees four winners who will showcase their designs on May 19 at 2pm in Sydney.
The four winners are –
Cameron Hill: Founded in 2021, Cameron Hill’s eponymous brand draws on a love of handmade textures and machine knitting, seeking to re -conceptualise grandma -esque knitted lacework and intricate geometric patterning. The designer’s knitwear – focused collections are minimal yet luxurious, marrying innovation and rich textiles.
Liandra Swim: Launched in the summer of 2018 by Liandra Gaykamangu, a Yolngu woman from North – East Arnhem Land, Liandra Swim fuses contemporary Aboriginal Australian culture with premium designer swimwear. The brand’s signature prints are inspired by the designer’s lived experiences and how Gaykamangu connects with community, culture and country. I have been lucky enough to see Liandra Swim on the catwalk and am so happy that we will see more of her fabulous swimwear this year at Fashion Week.
Ruby Pedder: Ruby Pedder debuted in 2021 with a proposition for casual couture that eschews the usual criteria of womenswear in favour of artistic, sculptural and wearable art. Casual, but couture, Ruby Pedder is a made to order brand that blurs the lines between art and fashion. Delicate art forms and silhouettes are warped and altered into explosive and aberrant forms, inspired by the rebellious attitudes of surrealism and feminist movements. 
Xi Wu Studio: Designer Xizhu Wu founded Xi Wu Studio in 2021 to design clothes that are artistically engaging with subtle juxtapositions and contemporary detailing. The studio’s practice intertwines traditional and new design techniques, each collection telling the story of Wu’s bi – cultural upbringing via both Eastern and Western garment techniques. 
The Next Gen winners receive industry networking opportunities, exposure to AAFW buyers and invaluable marketing, publicity, digital and social media support to reach the global audience. The Next Gen prize includes runway show production, a content package and international shipping credits provided by DHL. Previous winners have included Akira, BEC + BRIDGE, CAMILLA AND MARC and sass & bide, among others.
This year’s talented winners were chosen by a panel of global industry experts. It will be exciting to watch them begin their journeys of growth within the industry. The Next Gen show is always one of my most highly anticipated shows as I love the sense of innovation on display and it is terrific to follow the trajectory of these emerging designer’s careers.
This year Afterpay Australian Fashion Week will be held from 15 – 19 May live at Carriageworks in Sydney. Congratulations to this year’s Next Gen winners who will all showcase their unique designs and style right here in beautiful Sydney, Australia. The future of Australian fashion is looking bright.
Michelle Beesley is a Brisbane born and bred former primary school teacher. A wife, proud grandma and mother of three grown sons, Michelle is thrilled to have recently published her debut contemporary romance novel, It Happened in Paris, with Serenade Publishing. Her novella – Escape to D’ Amour was published in 2019. Michelle’s work can be found in the anthologies – Destination Romance and Short & Sweet. When not reading or writing Michelle can be found at a coffee shop chatting with friends, front row at a fashion show, or beside a rugby union field cheering on her favourite teams.
Michelle is a reluctant traveller, Francophile, keen walker and avid yoga enthusiast plus a book, film and theatre lover who loves everything pink and sparkly (including champagne). You can find Michelle on instagram @michellebeesley_writer and her website: michellebeesley.com.
