Designers Catherine Leon and Cynthia Ellis have smashed competition at the Melbourne Debut design awards to take out the top prizes in their respective categories.

Debut, run as part of the Fashion Exposed trade fair, has been a launch pad for over 130 young Australian labels since its inception in 2006, with past winners including now established brands Alexi Freeman, Limedrop, Trimapee, Subfusco and Since Grey.

This year, Leon, who launched her eponymous label in April, won the apparel category with designs that judges described as “cohesive, beautifully balanced, polished with professional presentation, and with major market potential”.

In the accessories sector, Ellis, founder of WA-based jewellery label Totomoto Australia, emerged triumphant, with judges describing her pieces as “beyond fashion with a brave aesthetic, thematic, sculptural, and beautifully executed with diverse appeal”.

Both designers will now have the chance to exhibit their collections at the next Fashion Exposed trade fair in Sydney for free, with the winner’s prize including a complete stand package valued at $4,000, as well as a 12 month subscription to Fashion Trend Magazine.

Fashion Exposed is a twice-yearly event run by Australian Exhibitions & Conferences (AEC), where the fashion industry meet, source and buy collections from over 1500 diverse Australian and International brands, at one destination.

Click here to download the 2012 Application Form

Fashion Exposed is delighted to announce the Debut finalists for Melbourne 2011:

Apparel labels: 

Catherine Leon | VIC
One Moment
www.catherineleon.com

Coelho | VIC
Autumn/Winter 2012
www.coelho.com

Corset Queen | VIC
www.corsetqueen.com.au

Sharka Bosakova | QLD
Shadows of Your Garden
www.sharka.superuser.com.au

Sonya Kraan | VIC
Riding with the Storm Clouds
www.sonyakraan.com

Sophia Vardos | ACT
Ora
www.sophiavardos.com.au

Stella Blanche | VIC
Scandal & Stages
www.stellablanche.com

Stepfanie Michelle | WA
Autumn/Winter 2012
www.facebook.com/stepfaniemichelle

Trace | ACT
Eroding Conversation
www.tracecollection.com

Accessory labels:

Nomiki Glynatsis Couture | QLD
Jewels of the Night
www.nomikiglynatsiscouture.com.au

Totomoto Australia | WA
Romantic Bold And A Little Bit Wild!
www.totomoto-australia.com

Vinyl Cuts | VIC
It’s kind of rock ‘n’ roll but I like it!
www.vinylcuts.com.au

Click here to view the Frequently Asked Questions

For further information contact:

Uli Hasel - Curator
03 9654 7773
debut@aec.net.au