APPLICATIONS OPEN

The National Graduate Showcase is consistently a highlight of the PayPal Australian Fashion Festival program - a national platform for Australia's most promising fashion graduates, and one of two initiatives in the Festival's Talent Development Program.

Open to students in their final year of a bachelor's or postgraduate fashion design degree, the Showcase brings together standout graduate talent from across the country. Following a nationwide selection process, finalists are chosen by a panel of leading industry judges to present their collections as part of the Festival's Premium Runway Series.​

Staged as part of the Festival's core program, the Showcase puts graduate designers in front of industry leaders, media, buyers and the public. Work that's spent years in a studio is presented to the people who can take it further.​

Proudly supported by Fashion Journal.​

APPLY NOW

KEY INFORMATION

  • Apply HERE​
    ​
    Read through the requirements below before you start.

  • September 23, 2026  Applications open​

    November 16, 2026    Applications close​

    December 4, 2026    Judging Day​

    Week of December 14, 2026    Applicants notified of outcome​

    March 2, 2027    National Graduate Showcase Runway​

  • Digital Folio:

    • Full body image of each look from your collection (4-6 pages) - high-resolution photography, front and back, clearly labelled, 2 images per page

    • Close-up images of collection details (2 pages) - high resolution photography of fabrication, fastenings, embellishment, craftsmanship

    • Imagery of previous work (1 page) - high-resolution photographs of past work or collections

    • Collection mood board (1 page)

    • Collection line-up illustration (1 page)

    • Optional: Additional collection imagery or workings you'd like to share (max. 3 pages) - sketches, imagery, or written documentation

      

    Collection Video:

    Designer Introduction & Collection Overview (approx. 30 seconds)

    • Introduce yourself and share a short summary of the concept and inspiration behind your collection.

    Garment Functionality & Runway Readiness (max. 3 minutes)

    For each look, please show:

    • The garments on a live model (preferred) or mannequin

    • Key design details, techniques, and fabric choices

    • Closures, fastenings, lining, and finishings (so the judges can assess wearability for the runway)

    • Any fit notes the stylist should know.

    • You're in the final year of a tertiary bachelor's or postgraduate fashion design degree at the time of application (June 2026-June 2027)​

    • Your graduate collection comprises at least 4 complete looks for the runway, with at least 3 complete at the time of application (the 4th may be submitted as an illustration)​

    • All submitted work is your own original design, forming part of your graduate collection​

  • Each weighting number denotes the maximum number of points attainable within the respective category. ​

    • Creative Vision & Originality - 35​

    • Technical Execution - 25​

    • Collection Strength & Cohesion - 20​

    • Runway Impact - 20​

  • All Finalists:  ​

    • Marketing and promotional exposure through the Showcase and Festival marketing, PR and social media activity​

    • Industry exposure through having your work reviewed by a panel of Australian fashion and industry professionals​

    • A place on a Premium Runway within the official 2027 PayPal Australian Fashion Festival program​

    • Dedicated Festival team support in the lead-up

    • A professional content package of runway and backstage photography and footage​

    • VIP access to selected 2027 Festival events, including the official Festival Launch Event​

  • View the Terms & Conditions​ here.

MEET THE 2027 NATIONAL GRADUATE SHOWCASE JUDGES

Supported by Fashion Journal

Six leading voices across Australian fashion, design, media, styling and retail. Together, they’ll select the graduate collections making their runway debut as part of the 2027 Premium Runway Series. 

TONI MATICEVSKI

Founder, Maticevski

Toni Maticevski has built a brand and a vision of feminine desires and artful silhouettes that have defied trends. Dressing the female form with the most alluring of silhouettes, Maticevski dreams of fashion as art to wear, as a companion to a life filled with beauty.

CHARLENE DAVIES

Digital Fashion Entrepreneur, Runway Commentator & Author 

Charlene Davies is a digital fashion media professional, runway commentator and author based in Melbourne. With a background in media, education and entrepreneurship, her work explores fashion beyond the surface, with a particular interest in identity, individuality and creative freedom. Through her digital platforms, her fashion accessories brand Culturesse, and The Runway Commentator, Charlene has built a global audience while engaging with fashion in Australia and internationally. She is also the author of The Stylish Pains & Gains: A Journey Through Fashion, Identity and Creative Freedom, reflecting on her evolving relationship with fashion, social media and self-expression. Charlene passionately supports emerging creative talent. 

CHRIS RAN LIN

Creative Director of Chris Ran Lin and Pride Bull

Chris Ran Lin founded his label with an experimental, conceptual approach to fashion design, believing in the unlimited potential of the knitted garment. His experiments are brave and highly exploratory, bringing traditional techniques into contemporary clothing. Simple silhouettes are paired with intricate patterns and textures, with collections exploring colour, softness, masculinity and personal association. In 2026, he took on the role of Creative/Design Director for active and casual wear label Pride Bull in China.

KARINDA MUTABAZI

Freelance Wardrobe & Fashion Stylist

Karinda Mutabazi is a visionary fashion and wardrobe stylist celebrated for her narrative-driven approach to storytelling through style. Her work spans shoots, installations, editorials, runway, television, music, and celebrity clientele - each project shaped by years of international experience in stage performance, film production, and theatre costume across London, New York, and Los Angeles. Fusing culture and identity into richly crafted looks, Karinda champions emerging talent through the National Graduate Showcase and First Nations Pathways Programs, continuing her commitment to mentoring the next generation of creative voices.

DAMIEN WOOLNOUGH

Creative Director, PayPal Australian Fashion Festival

One of Australia’s most respected voices in fashion, Damien brings more than 25 years of industry experience, most recently as Fashion Editor for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. Across his career, he has told the stories of designers, retailers, models and the broader fashion community through leading publications including Vogue, InStyle, ELLE, The Australian, GQ, the Herald Sun and the Sunday Times, as well as through regular television and radio commentary.

GUILIA BRUGLIERA

Managing Editor Fashion Journal

Giulia is the Managing Editor of Fashion Journal where she drives the creative direction and strategy. She has a background in both print and digital publishing across fashion, lifestyle, beauty and culture, and a professional background in family law. Her work combines a passion for women’s interests and issues with a deep understanding of what makes Australian audiences tick.