Continuing its legacy as a launchpad for emerging talent, The Innovators returned in 2025 as a showcase of exceptional creativity, craftsmanship and the next generation of Australian fashion visionaries.

This year marked the official launch of The Next Garde, a new incubator designed to propel FDS graduates into the global fashion arena. Building on The Innovators’ proud history, The Next Garde delivers tailored mentoring from industry collaborators in financial management, media training, local manufacturing and entrepreneurial skills. The program supports emerging designers to establish and grow their fashion businesses within The Innovators collective.

With support from Wacom and CLO3D, participants will also gain access to cutting-edge technology that encourages sustainable and innovative design practices.

For the first time, The Innovators will debut a dedicated online store, giving buyers and the public the opportunity to purchase directly from this year’s emerging designers.

MEET THE DESIGNERS
Shiva Yousefpour | SHIYO

A graduate of the Fashion Design Studio (FDS), Shiva Yousefpour brings a unique vision that merges cultural heritage with avant-garde innovation. Her label SHIYO sits at the intersection of architecture, art and sustainability, fusing Persian opulence and Japanese craftsmanship into sculptural, zero-waste garments that are both expressive and responsible.

Each piece reflects a philosophy where tradition meets futurism, redefining contemporary fashion through intricate folding techniques, experimental materials and gender-neutral silhouettes. SHIYO has been featured in leading fashion publications and worn by notable figures including Danielle Spencer.

@shiyo_label

Eidan Monks | EIDAN CEILIDH

EIDAN CEILIDH is a luxury Australian label by Eidan Monks, blending timeless elegance with contemporary sophistication. Each piece reflects a dedication to comfort, quality and craftsmanship, balancing traditional tailoring with modern refinement.

Defined by meticulous handwork and exclusive textures, the brand champions enduring design that transcends trends.

@eidanceilidh_

Daisy-Rose Cooper | Sleight of Hand (SOH)
Blue Mountains-based designer Daisy-Rose Cooper explores the possibilities of sustainable fashion through her label Sleight of Hand (SOH). Her work merges urban minimalism with natural processes, using hand-dyeing, felting and deadstock fabrics to create one-of-a-kind textures and tones.

Her garments reflect a shifting connection between people, culture and environment, each piece infused with timelessness and meaning. Featured in Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue Australia’s Vanguard Issue, Daisy-Rose continues to push the boundaries of craft through cross-disciplinary collaboration and experimentation.

 @soh.label

Emily Misaki Hon | FRAGMENT.66
Sydney-born designer Emily Misaki Hon, founder of FRAGMENT.66, draws on her Japanese and Chinese heritage to weave personal storytelling into contemporary menswear. Her collections explore identity and memory through delicate layering, expressive silhouettes and hand-crafted textile treatments.

Blending street style with refined tailoring, FRAGMENT.66 is both introspective and poetic, a study of how garments hold emotion and history. Each design is consciously produced using natural fibres, deadstock materials and eco-dyeing techniques.

@fra66ment

The Innovators: The Next Garde is more than a showcase. It is a statement of what is next for Australian fashion: bold, sustainable and boundary-pushing.

Learn more about the program here.