The next big name in fashion may well be uncovered in Adelaide this month when the HomeStart Fashion and Costume Graduate Parade – Visionary Voyage - presents the work of 26 emerging designers in a spectacular runway show.

The annual parade showcases the diverse collections of new graduates of the Bachelor of Creative Arts – Fashion and the Bachelor of Creative Arts – Costume, dual courses offered by TAFE SA and Flinders University.

Guests can expect to see everything from edgy streetwear and contemporary bridal wear to dramatic costuming at the event, which is being held in the cultural heart of the city, the Adelaide Festival Centre Plaza, on Friday 28 March.

About 500 people are expected to attend the parade, which is a launching pad for the emerging designers who will be presenting their work to not only family and friends but also key personnel in the SA fashion industry.

TAFE SA’s Helen Jansson, Principal Lecturer - Fashion, Costume, Retail and Floristry, says the parade - the largest standalone fashion event held in Adelaide - celebrates local design talent and is important for the industry.

"As well as showcasing our graduates’ talents, this event draws on the expertise of TAFE SA’s Hair & Beauty and Floristry programs and provides a platform for local models and staging and audiovisual professionals," she says.

"Representatives from industry are always in attendance and it’s great to be able to highlight the design skills available here in Adelaide which are as good as anywhere in Australia."

Past graduates have gone on to key roles in fashion houses here and interstate, including Bec and Bridge, PE Nation, Camilla and Decjuba, while others have established their own businesses.

This year’s fashion graduates are presenting a five-outfit collection which they’ve researched, designed and produced over the third and final year of their course and costume graduates are showing one of their designs on the runway while other outfits in their collection will form part of a static display.

Reflecting the diverse interests of the student group, the collections are eclectic and range from glamorous gowns, party dresses and sleek separates to upcycled garments and a reimagining of corporate wear.

Influences include architecture and iconic structures, the Australian Outback, African and Asian cultures, ‘60s music and sustainability.

Costume design graduate Karen Barry’s long-held fascination with Japanese culture inspired her collection, the Four Seasons of Samurai (pictured).

"I’ve taken the lifespan of a samurai and related it to the four seasons of the year and produced outfits for each period that would be suitable for a New Year street parade," she says.

Karen was the recipient of an Australian Wool Education Trust (AWET) grant enabling her to invest in quality wool fabrics, from coarse weave to superfine in texture, for her collection.

"Costume design appeals to me because you can work with a range of alternative materials such as compressed foam, latex and 3D printing, and for this collection I’ve made armour from a dyed leather that was laser cut and laced together with paracord," she says.

Karen, who has already worked on two short films, says participating in the parade offers valuable experience for those wanting to work in the fashion and film worlds and after working backstage last year, she’s looking forward to being in the audience and seeing how people respond to the collections.

Fashion graduate Tahlia Hossack’s collection La Vie En Rose by Miss Dahlia (pictured) is an exploration of "femininity and the performative nature of femininity" using bold colours and accentuated shapes.

Tahlia took inspiration from "the romanticised ideas of womanhood in the 1950s" and reinterpreted them to create designs with a focus on empowerment and self-expression.

The designer, who was also supported by an AWET grant, has produced a collection made from 80 per cent wool fabrics and included different sized garments to cater for a diverse range of body shapes.

A former mechanical engineering student, Tahlia says producing the collection enabled her to step out of her comfort zone and learn new techniques such as corsetry with the support of her lecturers.

"I’ve been involved as a dresser at the past two parades and it’s helped me work out what’s possible for my collection," says Tahlia, who is now working at RM Williams.

"I’m really looking forward to seeing it all come together on the runway, and I’m interested to see the audience reaction too – I think it will be a proud moment."

Limited tickets are available through here (external site).

This article was prepared for We Are.SA by TAFESA. Picture credits: Photos by Taylor, Claire Garner