Textile designer Rosemary Moore partners Graduate Fashion Foundation to launch design competition
Rosemary Moore, the inventor of the original four-way stretch and crinkle fabric MAXXAM in the early 1980s, is partnering with the Graduate Fashion Foundation to launch a design competition.
Fashion students across the UK are invited to enter until 2 April 2025. The winner will get the opportunity to work with Moore and her manufacturers, and be showcased as part of the Graduate Fashion Week Gala Show and exhibition.
Moore said: "A partnership with Graduate Fashion Foundation is a perfect fit and I am excited to see what students evolve from the MAXXAM fabrics, which are still in production today after 40 years and as relevant as ever with its unique properties for one size fits all fashion.
The competition is challenging fashion students to design a trend-led womenswear SS26 capsule collection utilising the famous fabrics, as used by brands including Liza Bruce, Bond-Eye, Youswim and Moore Maxxam.
The capsule range "should be timeless, multi-purpose and celebrate the fabric’s history", including a minimum of one piece of swimwear.
To be judged by Moore and the team at Graduate Fashion Foundation between 7-11 April, a shortlist of three winners will showcase looks in the Graduate Fashion Week Gala Show and exhibition taking place at the Truman Brewery in London’s Shoreditch between 13-16 June 2025.
Moore will select a final overall winner who will receive the coveted prize of working directly with her on their designs, with the chance of one of their pieces going into manufacture.
Nicola Hitchens, Charity and Event Director at Graduate Fashion Foundation, said: "It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with Rosemary to launch the MAXXAM Textiles design competition to our member universities.
“A brand so rich in history and with such a distinct textile offers the students a chance to explore their designs and push boundaries.
"The additional support of MAXXAM dead stock fabric donations to select UK universities is so vital at this time. We really look forward to seeing the entries and the designs come to life on the catwalk at GFW this year."
