25/11/11

Challenger cabaret fashion parade draws on punk influences

Perth's fashionistas flocked to Notre Dame University's Prindiville Hall this week for Challenger Institute of Technology's annual fashion runway event and awards night.

Celebrating its 17th anniversary, this year's Vanity Case parade was inspired by a punk cabaret theme.

This unique theme was an opportunity for the students to infuse the contrasting ideas of old-world glamour and punk sub-cultures into their designs.

More than 300 style-savvy guests were treated to a display of cutting-edge collections from Challenger Institute's graduating Applied Fashion Design and Technology Diploma students.

Challenger Institute CEO Liz Harris, who addressed the parade crowd, said the event was one of distinction.

"This annual Challenger event is growing in profile and interest and becoming more accomplished each year, with tonight marking the pinnacle of achievement for Challenger's vibrant fashion department," Ms Harris said.

"The designs on display are the culmination of two years of effort by the students, showcasing an impressive level of fashion knowledge and training."

The parade featured student work that has been entered into various fashion competitions throughout the year, including a collection of pieces shortlisted for this year's Perth Fashion Festival.

An innovative Challenger fashion student project supported by Engineers Australia and Work Safe was also exhibited at the event. The project gave students the opportunity to design a range of practical and stylish clothing for women in the mining and resource sector.

The glamorous parade closed with a captivating showcase of the graduating diploma students' work.

The overall winning student was Michelle Olufson, who demonstrated a high degree of understanding fashion concepts and design elements throughout the past two years of her studies.

Awards also went to Jaye-Maree Barker who received the Lecturer's Choice award; Haylee Dunn was awarded the Serecin Silk award for textiles, with students Kat Mackay and Sarah-Anne Mclernon being jointly recognised with the Bernina Most Improved awards. Sheila and X-Press magazines also presented their sponsored awards.

For the first time in the show's history, certificate IV fashion students displayed their latest designs as a moving showcase, to entice guests before the commencement of the parade.

This work went on to be displayed at a free public exhibition as part of the 2011 Fremantle Festival. The interactive exhibition showcased a Theatre de la Mode selection of garments created by diploma students and a student-run fashion design illustration workshop for visitors.

The Challenger Institute fashion parade has proudly given rise to a number of successful local fashion designers, some of whom recently featured in the Perth Fashion Festival, as well as other high-profile national and international fashion events.