Textiles

Jemma Billing

Northcote High School
Wurundjeri Country

Person holding a stuffed toy turtle to their chest.
Mr Tony's Turtles by Jemma Billing, Top Designs 2024. Photo by Nicole Cleary, courtesy of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

Mr Tony's Turtles

Cotton, fleece, silk, calico, wire, stuffing, velvet, leather

I produced two sensory-friendly comfort toys aimed to foster concentration, playfulness, a sense of safety and calmness. The first turtle focuses on enhancing concentration and cognitive abilities, employing various tactile materials, wire legs for interactive engagement, a weighted component for simulated human touch, and a seamlessly integrated tracking device for security. The second toy maintains continuity with the first but prioritizes materials that induce calmness, featuring a cuddly blanket and visual cues like sleepy eyes for a serene experience.


Alexandra Fleischmann

Sacred Heart College Geelong, Newtown
Wadawurrung Wathaurong Country

Person wearing a bright blue and green vest with silver zips, LED lights, and a water bottle in the right side pocket.
LED Mountain Bike Vest by Alexandra Fleischmann, Top Designs 2024. Photo by Nicole Cleary, courtesy of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

LED Mountain Biking Vest

Water-resistant polyester, water-resistant microfibre fabric, mesh, zippers, velcro

Mountain biking is a sport that requires the athlete to carry many items and tools with them. Current mountain biking apparel on the market lacks adequate storage for biking essentials. I have therefore designed this vest with storage in mind, incorporating several pockets of varying sizes to accommodate a range of mountain biking tools. The detachable battery-operated LED light panels enhance the wearer’s visibility and safety on the tracks, avoiding the need to bring a separate light source. The mesh panels located under the arm aid breathability and airflow, and the flexible laser-cut side pockets can carry almost any size drink bottle.


Jasmine Goon

Ballarat High School, Lake Gardens
Wadawurrung Wathaurong Country

Person wearing an earth-toned jumpsuit with corduroy patches. Several pockets on the front and arms of the jumpsuit hold art materials, including pencils, pens and paintbrushes.
Utility Jumpsuit for Fine Artists by Jasmine Goon, Top Designs 2024. Photo by Nicole Cleary, courtesy of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

Utility Jumpsuit for Fine Artists

100% reused cotton corduroy, denim jeans, elastic, satin, zips, press studs

After struggling to maintain desk space and organise materials during my own art making processes, I created this utility jumpsuit to address fine artists’ needs for practical and convenient storage solutions. Designed to redefine a conventional art apron, my unique garment has biodegradable full body coverage that safeguards the user from mess. With strategic arm, torso and leg pocket placements, art materials are accessible and desk clutter is eliminated. Contrasting colours make material stains easily identifiable and aesthetically complement the wearable art to promote artistic expression.


Alexa Hernyak

Emmaus College, Vermont South
Wurundjeri Country

Person wearing a short sleeved blue checked shirt and denim cargo pants with suspenders.
Smarty Pants by Alexa Hernyak, Top Designs 2024. Photo by Nicole Cleary, courtesy of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

Smarty Pants

100% cotton denim, 100% cotton lining, non-woven interfacing, zippers, clasps, button

Melbourne’s extreme daily weather fluctuations present challenges when it comes to choosing comfortable, climate-appropriate clothes. To address this issue, I chose to explore transformable clothing. The Smarty Pants were designed to adapt to Melbourne’s ‘four seasons in one day’. These fun and fashionable full-length denim pants entirely transform into shorts and a functional tote bag. My design is made up of panels edged with chunky zippers that can be assembled in various directions, and also features a smart multipurpose strap.


Katelyn Hon

Ave Maria College, Aberfeldie
Wurundjeri Country

Person wearing a short sleeved white shirt and khaki bottoms. There are a number of buttonholes along the sleeves of the shirt.
Less is More by Katelyn Hon, Top Designs 2024. Photo by Nicole Cleary, courtesy of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

Less is More

Cuprammonium rayon, linen, buttons

As the global population continues to grow, humans are running out of space in their households. Inspired by my mother’s old homes in Hong Kong, I chose to create a set of garments that would take up minimal storage space and could serve multiple purposes. I used materials that were lightweight, durable, and flexible so that the garments could be worn in different weather conditions and stored with ease. Buttons allow the wearer to easily remove and attach each piece of the garment, ensuring convenient use.


Sofia Korfiatis

Star of the Sea College, Brighton
Bunurong Boonwurrung Country

Person wears a cape adorned with butterfly illustrations. A green, yellow and brown shift dress is worn underneath.
Metamorphosis of a Butterfly by Sofia Korfiatis, Top Designs 2024. Photo by Nicole Cleary, courtesy of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

Metamorphosis of a Butterfly

Cotton and polyester

My design was developed as an educational tool to teach prep students the process of a butterfly's metamorphosis. The butterflies on the garment were drawn by prep students and then printed onto fabric. The garment was designed to engage these students, by reflecting on their own creative work. The transformation of the garment represents the three stages of a butterfly’s metamorphosis. The dress symbolises the caterpillar and the skirt represents the cocoon, which then transforms into a cape as the butterfly emerges.


Ashleigh McGuire

Bacchus Marsh Grammar, Maddingley
Wadawurrung Wathaurong Country

Person wearing a white hoodie and jeans. They hold a turned out pocket of the hoodie, which features a faux fur panel.
Anti-Anxiety Hoodie by Ashleigh McGuire, Top Designs 2024. Photo by Nicole Cleary, courtesy of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

Anti-Anxiety Hoodie

Fleece, faux fur, satin, cord, sequin fabric, iron-on vinyl

My gender-neutral hoodie design features fidget and soothing accessories to assist users in moderating their anxiety and/or other sensory needs discreetly in public. The interchangeable pocket inserts and compression elements can be removed and attached depending on the wearer's preferences. The soft, hand dyed fleece is a calming, neutral colour, offering another soothing feature for the wearer.


Kate Pope

St Michael's Grammar School, St Kilda
Bunurong Boonwurrung Country

Person wears a navy blue medical uniform that features striking pink artwork on the pockets and side panels.
Contemporary Medical Uniform by Kate Pope, Top Designs 2024. Photo by Nicole Cleary, courtesy of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

Contemporary Medical Uniform

Cotton, bamboo fibre, elastane, nylon zip

My garment is a unisex medical uniform for the Western Health Organisation. Inspired by the recent upgrade of the Footscray Hospital, I aimed to design an updated uniform that was stylish as well as ergonomic. I have used high quality breathable material and included various points of adjustability to address some of the common technical flaws in scrubs. I have incorporated Maisie Nungarrayi Ward’s print fabric 'Desert Oak Dreaming' created with Warlukurlangu, Artists of Yuendumu to visually represent Western Health's commitment to achieving equality in health status between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians. My garment aims to align with Western Health Organisation’s values and meet the needs of their diverse staff, while considering the unique tasks and duties undertaken by each individual.


Laura Power

Marist College Bendigo, Maiden Gully
Dja Dja Wurrung Country

Close-up view of a blue and cream checked wool coat featuring wooden buttons.
Upcycled Onkaparinga Coat by Laura Power, Top Designs 2024. Photo by Nicole Cleary, courtesy of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

Upcycled Onkaparinga Coat

Onkaparinga wool blanket, satin lining, non-woven fusible interfacing, cotton thread, epoxy resin, handmade Tasmanian oak buttons

To address the growing issue of textile waste, I designed my garment to focus on recycling an existing Onkaparinga blanket. A statement feature of the coat are the recycled Tasmanian oak buttons, which I made by hand. The coat is designed to be oversized, while the addition of an optional belt makes it versatile for many body types and individuals. The large deep pockets allow for maximum comfort and additional security for valuables.


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