Fashion retailer Shein has debuted its first Australian Student Designer collection, showcasing the work of Elian Yang, winner of the 2024 Rise Student Designer Challenge.
Fashion retailer Shein has unveiled its inaugural Australian Student Designer collection, featuring designs by Elian Yang, the champion of the 2024 Rise Student Designer Challenge. This launch marks a significant milestone for the company in engaging with local emerging talent in Australia.
Elian Yang, a student at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, emerged victorious after competing against 19 finalists in the competition, which centered on the theme of ‘Retro-Futurism.’ As part of her award, Yang received a $10,000 cash prize and mentorship from renowned Australian designer Alice McCall.
Yang describes her collection as a blend of the past and future, drawing inspiration from her passion for Greek mythology. She expressed her excitement about the opportunity, saying, “As a student about to graduate, having my designs showcased on such a global platform is beyond anything I imagined.” Her creative vision aims to merge traditional symbolism with modern design elements, culminating in what she describes as “something timeless yet forward-thinking, where traditional symbolism meets bold, contemporary structures.”
The Rise Student Designer Challenge, which was introduced in July 2022, is part of Shein’s ongoing commitment to fostering upcoming designers and focuses on themes of resilience, inspiration, support, and empowerment. This initiative follows the global success of the Shein X Challenge in 2021, which has engaged over 5,300 designers and artists worldwide.
A spokesperson for Shein conveyed the company’s aim with the Rise Student Designer Challenge, stating, “With the launch of our first Rise Student Designer Challenge, an initiative that will be annual, we had a strong focus on finding and supporting talented young Australian designers.” The collection is now available for purchase globally, highlighting Shein’s strategy to connect local artisans with a wider audience.
Source: Noah Wire Services
