Oliver Pond is a name you might be seeing a lot of in the future, but that might not have been the case if it weren’t for the Fashion Awards Australia.
An annual event, the awards allow amateur designers to showcase their skills and creativity.
Now 19, the Hoppers Crossing suit designer cleaned up at the 2023 awards by winning the racewear and day wear categories.
A year 12 student at the time, he said the awards gave him a chance to shine and be an ambassador of fashion in his community.
“It gave me something to drive towards, the chance to network and I just learned about the fashion industry a bit more,” Mr Pond said.
“I guess I was kind of discouraged from going into textiles. I think we face this dilemma of how many people are actually in the fashion industry and succeeding.
“We kind of ignore that but there is so much science to fabric in how it affects our body and the planet.
“I feel it is underrepresented in Australia, as it makes up a lot of our economy and the Melbourne culture as well.
“My suits are the same quality you would see on Saville Road in London.”
The competition is open to all amateur designers, but features fields for TAFE as well as secondary students in years 9-10 and 11-12.
Entries close on September 5 for the open and TAFE fields, and September 10 for secondary school contestants.
The awards will take place at the Encore Events Centre in Hoppers Crossing on Friday, October 10.
More: https://fashionawardsaustralia.org.au/
