Emerging Graduate Designers at Elle in 2026
Elle is proud to partner with NM TAFE Fashion & Textile Design for the 2025 Art & Design Portfolio Exhibition — a celebration of emerging design talent and future industry voices.
The Elle Visual Merchandising Accolade recognises a graduate whose collection demonstrates creative clarity, cohesion, and a distinctly industry-ready point of view, from concept through to execution.
In our first year supporting the Exhibition, the calibre of work presented was exceptional. The collections were so compelling that Elle awarded not one, but two accolades, acknowledging the strength and individuality of this year’s graduate cohort.
Olivia Grace and Lucy Brookes stood out for their refined vision, thoughtful storytelling, and confident design language, qualities that strongly align with the Elle aesthetic. Their collections will be proudly showcased in the iconic Elle windows in early 2026, offering a platform where emerging talent meets the retail landscape.
Discover the inspiration, process, and design narratives behind each graduate’s collection below.
Disc Jockey by Olivia Grace
Olivia’s work draws inspiration from the specialised craft of equestrian uniforms and equipment, including refined tailoring and intricate leather saddlery. She contrasts these elements with the energy and expressive individuality of underground rave culture. This juxtaposition creates a dynamic relationship between control and freedom. Through experimental pattern cutting and innovative fabrications, Olivia reimagines the boundaries between functional design and subcultural aesthetics.
Olivia’s design process began with cutting and collaging imagery sourced from second-hand books on saddlery and horse tack. She also looked at the photographs by Boorloo-based film photographer whoissarahcraig, that capture the raw atmosphere of local rave events. An understanding of the work of UK designer Kiko Kostadinov, led to experimentation with innovative pattern cutting to create both structured and gentle silhouettes.
Olivia’s collection features a dynamic mix of materials, such as dyed sheep leather for structure and gathered silk organza for softness. Thrifted plaids are reimagined through hand quilting and vibrant screen prints inspired by jockey silks. Richly textured 3D knits are crafted from natural fibres such as wool, mohair and cashmere. Together, these fabrics symbolise a dialogue between tradition and experimentation and embody the collection’s juxtaposition of discipline and expressive freedom. She also references Chopova Lowena’s eclectic approach to print mixing and colour, developing layered forms that merge functionality with expressive detail.
In the future, Olivia plans to pursue internship opportunities with established fashion brands to further develop her technical and creative skills. She would also like the opportunity to collaborate with other local creatives on projects that explore innovative design approaches and concept-driven fashion outcomes.
Glitter Girls From Outer Space by Lucy Brookes
This body of work by Lucy Brookes takes inspiration from the vibrant world of the 1970s, a decade defined by dynamic shifts in culture, fashion and social movements. Combining elements of glam rock, science fiction and pop culture, Lucy’s work celebrates the flamboyance of artists such as Queen, T. Rex and Suzi Quatro, and classic seventies films such as Flash Gordon, Barbarella and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The interiors of luxury hotels, private jets and glamorous clubs have also influenced this collection. Lucy’s work reflects the era’s push for women’s liberation and gay rights at time of significant societal change.
Starting with quick sketches to develop silhouette ideas, Lucy then transitions to draping directly onto the mannequin, allowing three dimensional shapes to evolve spontaneously. Working intuitively, she experiments with paper and calico to experiment with shapes, cutting and pinning as she goes to explore scale and proportion on the body. Lucy draws seam lines directly onto the prototype garment while it’s still on the mannequin, capturing the freedom of the creative pattern design process. Lucy then moves to flat pattern making, refining draped forms into wearable pieces that retain their theatrical origins.
Lucy’s collection features a range of synthetic fabrics in saturated colours with contrasting prints and finishes. To transform her materials, Lucy dyes, then screen or digitally prints the fabric with hand drawn imagery. Clashing colours and prints are a staple of her work with careful selections of colour and texture achieving harmony within chaos. Lucy also explores contrasting textures, combining pleather, shag and sequins to create a tactile expression of 1970s inspired modernity.
In the future, Lucy would like to travel to London to complete a costume design internship. She plans to continue refining her construction and design skills and exploring her interest in film and history.