Australian Fashion Design Awards

AFDA'S TOP STUDENT DESIGNER TO WIN PARIS AMERICAN ACADEMY SCHOLARSHIP

It's every student designer's dream - the chance to live, breathe and study fashion design in Paris. Well for one Student entrant in the 28th NRA Australian Fashion Design Awards presented by AMP Capital Shopping Centres this dream will become a reality.

The winner of the Student Design category in this year's Awards will win a prestigious Paris American Academy July 2009 Fashion Workshop Scholarship with acclaimed fashion designers as teachers and fashion shows as classrooms. The prize also includes accommodation for the duration of the scholarship and return economy flights (provided by the Paris American Academy, the NRA and AMP Capital Shopping Centres).

"Renowned for discovering new talent, the Australian Fashion Design Awards is focused on youth in 2009," said NRA Events and Marketing Director Donna Caley.

"Our aim has always been to discover young talent and encourage careers. This scholarship is a wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for one lucky student to appreciate and study fashion design in what is arguably the world's most fashionable city. The Paris American Academy, known for its collaboration with acclaimed designers, will give the winning student the chance to learn couture techniques, design process, and fashion merchandising and communication as well as attend major fashion shows both as an audience member and behind the scenes," said Ms Donna Caley.

Paris American Academy President and Executive Director Peter Carman said Paris is known for design, culture and beauty. "The July Workshop helps students to analyse what makes fashion, to appreciate fashion's many inspirations from design and architecture, to colour and textiles, as well as improve their design skills. Students work with talented professionals in fields such as haute couture, costume design and millinery. They are introduced to an array of specialist techniques and have the opportunity to design something using these techniques. The workshop culminates in an exhibition of the students' work."

Student judging will take place in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and the Gold Coast on 31st March and 1st and 2nd April. Established or emerging fashion designers can also compete in the Open Preliminary Heats which include the Ready to Wear category (including Kids, Swim-Surf, Lifestyle and Men's fashion) and Signature category (showcasing Couture, Bridal, and Fashions on the Field entries). The Open Preliminary Heats will be judged at Pacific Fair Shopping Centre on 2nd and 3rd April.

Paris American Academy President and Executive Director Peter Carman will help judge the Student category in the National Final.

"For almost 30 years the Awards have nurtured designer talent and helped launch many top Australian fashion designers' careers. Yet again we're expecting Student designers to take risks and are looking forward to attention-grabbing ensembles gracing the runway," said Ms Caley.

The 28th NRA Australian Fashion Design Awards National Final and Live Telecast will be held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on Wednesday 8 April. This year's Awards ceremony, hosted by TV personalities Cameron Williams and Lyndsey Rodrigues, will be telecast live by the Nine Network throughout Queensland at 8.30pm and replayed nationally.

The Awards are the longest-running continuously televised fashion event on Australian television. Students and fashion designers can now enter the Awards. Visit www.nra.net.au/fashion to enter.