BT Emerging Designer Award 2018 finalists announced

BT Financial Group, together with the Australian Fashion Council (AFC), are pleased to announce labels Albus Lumen, Double Rainbouu and Anna Quan as the finalists for the 2018 BT Emerging Fashion Designer Award. With the first prize valued at $70,000, the winner will be announced at the BT Runway event on 28 March 2018, with all three finalists presenting their collections alongside some of Australia’s most successful designers.

2018 marks the sixth year for one of Australia’s most prestigious fashion design awards and this year’s winner will join the ranks of previous recipients Kacey Devlin (2017), macgraw (2016), Emma Mulholland (2015), Michael Lo Sordo (2014) and Christopher Esber (2013).

2017 BT Emerging Fashion Designer Award winner Kacey Devlin said: “It was really humbling to be a finalist last year and for all the finalists this year it’s a great opportunity to look at your business and think about ways to be more strategic looking forward. The BT Emerging Designer Award is a great platform for your brand to be a part of. For the winner, you should definitely take every opportunity you are offered in the prize. That’s why you go for the award – from the business, financial and banking advice to Toni and Guy who styled hair for every look book we’ve done.”

This year’s award provides the winning designer with a $10,000 cash grant and two years of financial planning services provided by BT; accounting and business advisory services for two years provided by Bentleys NSW; a look book styled and produced by Vogue Australia; two return Business Class flights to London provided by British Airways; a one year subscription with new media content business, Flaunter; and two mentoring sessions with two fashion industry icons provided by the AFC. TONI&GUY Australia will proudly sponsor the winner’s hairdressing needs including: access to their National Artistic Team for two major fashion events, two look book or editorial shoots and three months’ worth of hairdressing at TONI&GUY Head Office.

BT Financial Group’s General Manager, Advice & Private Wealth, Jane Watts said, “The award continues to attract high calibre entrants and we look forward to supporting another emerging designer to join the alumni of BT Emerging Designer Award winners. We are proud to be mentoring Australia’s next generation of designers as they take their business to the next level.”

The award has been an important initiative for BT Financial Group, providing it with a platform to support emerging talent to reach their full potential by investing in and mentoring the growth of Australian designers. BT is delighted to continue its partnership with the Australian Fashion Council as an organisation that promotes the growth of Australian design talent and the strengthening of the Australian fashion economy on a local and global scale.

The judges for this year’s award include a host of industry experts including Editor-in-Chief and AFC Board Director Edwina McCann; designer Camilla Freeman-Topper of CAMILLA AND MARC; creative director of Oracle Fox Amanda Shadforth; Australian stylist Caterina Scardino; and Westpac Group Executive, Compliance, Legal & Secretariat Rebecca Lim.

About Albus Lumen
Tending towards a more classic aesthetic, Marina Afonina's label Albus Lumen (meaning 'white light' in Latin) was a reaction to a gap in the Australian market for luxury resort wear with a premium placed on effortlessness. Simple shapes and classic modernity create subtle yet striking contrasts.The label uses only natural, quality fabrics such as silk and cotton linen blends and is realised in artful drapery and deconstructed utility.
With influences that include Slim Aarons book Poolside and vintage photographs of Brigitte Bardot in St- Tropez and Romy Shneider in "The Swimming Pool" movie set, Afonina explained the label’s mood as a minimalist traveller heavily inspired by European Summer. Albus Lumen aesthetic is uncomplicated luxury and effortless style. The label was launched in mid-2015 and celebrity wearers include Elle MacPherson, Lara Worthington, Tessa James, Elsa Pataki and many more.

About Double Rainbouu
Double Rainbouu was founded by Mikey Nolan and Toby Jones (formerly creative directors of Ksubi) in January 2016. Boasting resort wear for beach babes and pool punks, the label began with the idea of being relatively simple – focusing on classic shapes and simple fabrics but ramping up the volume on the prints. Starting with five different styles of Hawaiian-inspired printed shirts, it has now expanded to include knitwear, slouchy trousers, board shorts, and bathing suits, bridging the gap between beachwear and playful contemporary fashion.
Double Rainbouu sports unisex offerings, witty interpretations of corporate logos, layering and psychedelic prints.
Celebrity wearers of the brand include Baz Luhrmann, Peter Garrett, Super Duper Kyle, and Justin Bieber.

About Anna Quan
Sydney based designer Anna Hoang is an emerging Australian designer who believes everyday clothes should be special. Anna Quan is derived from the designer’s first and middle names. The label is responsible for reinventing the classic white shirt and pushing tailoring boundaries. It has been making the now top-selling Anne shirt since 2014.
Specialising in tailoring and using the finest fabrications, Anna Quan focuses on subtle details that ultimately makes the garment unique, whether it be well executed fit, perfectly placed pockets, faultless lining or exaggerated sleeves.
Celebrity fans include Kendall Jenner and Karlie Kloss and the designer’s work is regularly featured by street style bloggers such as Camille Charrière and Yoyo Cao.

About BT Financial Group
BT has been helping Australians prepare for the best since 1969. Today BT helps thousands of customers find superannuation, investment and insurance solutions to suit their personal needs and goals. They’re also a specialist in financial advice. BT Financial Group is the wealth management arm of the Westpac Group.

About Australian Fashion Council
The Australian Fashion Council (AFC) is a non-profit membership organisation with over 65 years of service to the industry, with the aim to promote the growth of the textile & fashion industry in Australia. Members are drawn from across the fashion & textile industry value chain, and range from micro to large companies, education, state and national industry associations and students. AFC activities and projects support five focus areas; strengthening supply chains, fostering design and innovation, promoting ethical practice, supporting emerging business and building Australian export. For further information on the AFC visit www.ausfashioncouncil.com.