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Each year at Fashion Week the most anticipated collections are from the emerging TAFE students. Last year Dion Lee wowed the crowds and won them over instantly with his ambitious designs. This year around he had his own runway show in an off site location, 9 am on a freezing cold morning. But the crowds still turned up to see the next big label in the Australian fashion industry.

Following eagerly in Dion Lee's footsteps was this years TAFE students- Soeli Pedrozo, Seema Pun, Rachel Sherwood and Christian Lines. These four young student designers were the highlight of RAFW. In a collaborative show, the four designers produced pieces that were unexpected, exciting and futuristic. Bold bright colours were thrown together with metal breast plates and accessorised with steel poles protruding from models heads. Yes- it was wierd and it was wonderful- but isn't that what we should expect from fashion week?

The four collections worked together well, despite vital differences between each students ideas and tailoring. Panelling and ruching was a clear favourite amongst this group of budding designers- layered fabrics proved popular and so did heightened shoulders and excessive necklaces (personal favourite was an oversized scarf/necklace made from foam balls encased in stocking)

The students played with sheerness and colour- mixing and matching prints and shapes in unusual ways that seemed to feel effortlessly cool. The Innovators definitely impressed, but the two designers to watch out for from this group would be Seema Pun and Rachel Sherwood. To check out all the images from these talented emerging designers, click the image below.