NEWS
Design students among winners of Jeanswest T-shirt design competition
Four RMIT textiles and graphic design students are among the winners of a competition from one of Australia’s premier retail brands.
Jeanswest’s Homespun Blank Canvas competition challenged budding designers to submit graphic T-shirt designs inspired by the theme “Home”, with the winning entries to be produced as part of the retailer’s summer menswear collection.
The winning designs are a fresh and funky mix of styles suitable to wear everywhere from the beach to the bar.
Of the six winning designs, four were submitted by RMIT students: Mitchell Alexandrou Certificate IV in Design: and Georgia Sedman, Certificate IV in Design; Kiaya Byrne, Bachelor of Arts (Textile Design); and Amber Nuttall, Bachelor of Arts (Textile Design).
Nuttall, whose winning submission features a stylised line drawing of an Australian landscape, drew inspiration from the natural features of country Victoria where she grew up.
“After moving to Melbourne this year, the countryside around Ballarat, where I’m from, means a lot more to me,” Nutall said.
“I’ve spent a lot of time in the area amongst the mountains, lakes and trees. To me the landscape of country Victoria means ‘home’.”
Adam Lloyd, General Manager of Product at Jeanswest, said the competition was a chance to give design students a taste of what it takes to work in the real world of fashion design.
“Homespun Blank Canvas [is] a locally made collection that supports locally grown talent,” he said.
“It’s a lovely way to provide a memorable example for our future industry leaders of what is possible on home soil.”
Kiri Delly, Deputy Head of Industry Engagement at RMIT’s School of Fashion and Textiles, said the collaboration with Jeanswest was a “wonderful opportunity” for students in the textile design and graphic design programs.
“Being able to see their designs commercially developed, go into production and then get stocked in stores both in Australia and New Zealand offers them valuable insight into the industry,” Delly said.
“Jeanswest is a fantastic partner of the School of Fashion and Textiles, contributing across a range of programs and activities and fully committed to the potential such connections bring to both organisations.”
The Homespun Blank Canvas collection, which is 100% Australian-made and accredited by Ethical Clothing Australia, is now available online and in over 100 retail stores.
Story: Bradley Dixon
Photographs: Courtesy of Jeanswest