Design, Fashion & Styling Award: The 2024 nominees

2024 French-Australian Excellence Awards

Choose your finalists: Voting open (1-15 October)

Arts, Culture, Entertainment & Events

Culinary & Gastronomy

Diversity, Inclusion & Gender Equality

Entrepreneurship

Environmental & Sustainability

Health & Wellbeing

High Impact Business & Leadership

Research & Innovation

Solidarity, Community & Volunteerism

Sport

Tech Startup

Live Design & Fashion Award – The nominees

Charlotte Vergnolle

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Charlotte Vergnolle

Charlotte Vergnolle is a designer known for her innovative architectural approach that emphasises sustainability and efficient space utilisation. With a background in French architecture, she has significantly influenced the local community in Balgowlah through her work on a four-unit building, enhancing both its functionality and aesthetic appeal.

Her designs encourage residents to rethink how they use their land, promoting a shift towards sustainable living. By incorporating eco-friendly materials and practices, Charlotte demonstrates that good design can support both beauty and environmental responsibility.

Through her projects, Charlotte continues to inspire conversations about sustainable architecture, making a positive impact in her community while advocating for a more environmentally conscious approach to design.

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Christophe Hoppe

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Christophe Hoppe

Christophe Hoppe (NSW) is the founder of Bausele, an Australian watch brand that merges versatile, stylish design with Swiss-made quality. From the beach to the boardroom, Bausele watches are designed to suit any occasion.

In 2011, Christophe established Bausele in Sydney, driven by his passion for Australia and a desire to create a watch brand that reflects the nation's spirit. The name Bausele—short for "Beyond Australian Elements"—captures the essence of Australia's unique landscapes and wildlife.

By 2015, Bausele became the first Australian brand to showcase at Baselworld, and in 2016, the brand collaborated with the Sydney Opera House for a special edition watch. Bausele's success has since expanded globally, reaching markets in France, the US, Japan, and selling online in over 40 countries.

A major milestone came in 2020 when Bausele was selected to create the official watch for the Royal Australian Air Force's 100th anniversary. Christophe's expertise in Swiss technology and innovative design have been instrumental in Bausele’s success, offering high-quality, affordable timepieces that resonate with customers worldwide.

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Christopher Esber

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Christopher Esber

Christopher Esber is an acclaimed Australian fashion designer known for his sleek and bold cut-out designs. In 2024, he became the first Australian to win the prestigious ANDAM Grand Prize in Paris, a significant achievement in the fashion world. This award includes a €300,000 grant and a mentorship with Anthony Vaccarello, the creative director of Saint Laurent. Esber's distinctive style, characterised by a blend of minimalism and sensuality, has garnered attention from international celebrities like Dua Lipa, Zendaya, and Hailey Bieber.

Esber’s triumph at the ANDAM Awards not only solidifies his status in the global fashion industry but also opens doors for further international recognition. The mentorship will provide him with unique insights into both the creative and business aspects of fashion, propelling his brand even further. Esber has already made a name for himself in high fashion, with his designs frequently featured on red carpets and in leading fashion magazines.

His win at the ANDAM Awards is part of the competition's long-standing tradition of launching designers to new heights in their careers, highlighting Esber as one of the most exciting talents to watch in contemporary fashion.

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Delphine Genin

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Delphine Genin

Born in France, Delphine Genin (VIC) is a creative designer shaping the future of fashion both in the physical and digital world.

Delphine is a deep thinker who prefers observing and understanding before taking action. She is also neurodivergent, which influences her ability to see the world as a canvas of endless possibilities. This perspective is the foundation of her creativity, enabling her to explore where others might not dare.

An unusual Chief Financial Officer turned Creative entrepreneur. Delphine spent her career exploring the intersections of finance, fashion, and the human desire for self-expression. She has navigated her career, understanding its conventions and the limitations they can impose.

Simultaneously, she has immersed herself in the art of haute couture under the watchful guidance of Lesage, a subsidiary of Chanel, a realm where the sublime and extraordinary are woven with thread and needle. The Atelier now has the privilege of collaborating with renowned Haute Couture professionals such as Dominique Pillard, an expert Plumassier (feather artisan) who has worked with luminaries like Jean Paul Gaultier and Petites mains (embroidery artisans).

She believes in the potential of augmented reality, AI, digital fashion, the combination of physical and digital experiences, a world where women can visualise, experiment, and express their unique fashion senses without limitations.

Within only two years since commencing the label, Delphine Genin has been described as “pioneering a radical new concept” by the Australian Financial Review. By combining rare craft and tradition with technology, the label remains at the forefront of Australian luxury.

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Georgia Fraser

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Georgia Fraser

She is starting a new position as Senior womenswear designer SHOW at Saint Laurent.

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Grace Lillian Lee

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Grace Lillian Lee

Grace Lillian (QLD) is a multicultural artist from Cairns, where she lives and works. A proud descendant of the Meriam Mer people of the Torres Strait, Grace draws deep inspiration from her Indigenous heritage to create unique body adornments and wearable art pieces. Her distinctive body sculptures frequently incorporate the 'Grasshopper weaving' technique, passed down by her mentor and Torres Strait Elder, Uncle Ken Thaiday.

As one of Australia’s leading Indigenous artists and fashion designers, Grace founded the nationally recognised Cairns Indigenous Art Fair Fashion Performance in 2013. Her work in Indigenous fashion has also been showcased internationally, with performances in Papua New Guinea, as well as nationally in Melbourne, Adelaide, Darwin, and at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

Grace has exhibited extensively across Australia and abroad, and her work is held in several prestigious collections, including the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences in Sydney, the Art Gallery of South Australia in Adelaide, and the Cairns Art Gallery in Queensland.

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Jad Rabbaa

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Jad Rabbaa

Jad Rabbaa (See-Mode Technologies, NSW) is an exceptional digital product designer and innovator who has spent the last 15 years working across four continents and mastering five languages. His diverse background, coupled with his passion for design thinking, UX/UI design, and emerging technologies, positions him as a thought leader and trailblazer in the field of product design. His commitment to research-driven methodologies has enabled him to create innovative solutions in the design, automotive, and healthcare sectors, meeting the highest standards of usability and innovation.

Jad’s education and experience span the globe, with formal training in France and Canada. His rich cultural and professional diversity has allowed him to work on groundbreaking projects with the United Nations, General Motors, and the AGO Museum, pushing the boundaries of design and technology. He has made a mark in the realms of augmented reality, digital games, and wearables, and is now focused on design for healthcare.

In 2023, Jad moved to Australia, where his passion for design and innovation took a new direction. He has taken on a significant role at See-Mode Technologies, an AI healthcare startup, where he serves as the UX and UI product designer behind an advanced computer-vision AI product aimed at assisting radiologists with cancer detection. This cutting-edge product enhances accuracy and efficiency in diagnostics, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes and earlier detection in breast and thyroid imaging. Jad has been diligently working on the usability, interaction, user experience, and interface of the product, which is ready to be shipped and used by clinics around the world. This project not only underscores Jad’s expertise in UX/UI design but also highlights his deep commitment to improving health outcomes and enhancing quality of life through technology.

As a Francophone with family ties to France, Australia, and Lebanon, Jad has been deeply involved in the French-Australian community. His multicultural background enriches his approach to design, allowing him to bridge gaps across cultures and foster innovation within the community and the Francophone network. Through his leadership and mentorship, Jad continues to inspire peers and future generations of designers, making a lasting impact in the tech and healthcare industries. His current AI project positions him as a strong candidate for the Design and Health and Wellbeing awards. Through his relentless pursuit of innovation and dedication to making a difference, Jad Al Rabbaa is a true leader in his field.

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Katie Somerville

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Katie Somerville

Katie Somerville (VIC) is the Senior Curator of Fashion and Textiles at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). She has worked with a wide range of fashion and textile collections for over three decades. Katie joined the curatorial department at the NGV in 1995, working with both Australian and international collections. She currently oversees the research and development of the collection, as well as the ongoing programme of publications and exhibitions for the Fashion and Textiles Department.

The NGV’s Fashion and Textiles collection consists of approximately 10,000 works, including garments and accessories from the seventeenth century to the present day, as well as historical textiles from the seventh century onwards. Textiles were first collected by the NGV in 1895, and fashion acquisitions began in 1948. Since then, the collection has continued to grow through a combination of strategic purchases and generous donations.

The NGV actively pursues ambitious acquisitions in international fashion, including exemplary works of twentieth- and twenty-first-century French ready-to-wear and haute couture. The NGV's collection of French haute couture is the most significant in Australia, representing the origins of haute couture in the nineteenth century through to contemporary times, with exceptional pieces specifically commissioned from major couture houses.

The fashion curators at the NGV collaborate closely with fashion and haute couture houses, commissioning works specifically for the collection, identifying new acquisitions, and researching existing works. These include houses such as Schiaparelli, Yves Saint Laurent, Lanvin, Chanel, Dior, Comme des Garçons, Maison Margiela, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Martin Grant.

During her time at the NGV, Katie and the Fashion and Textiles department have curated and co-curated numerous exhibitions, including Africa Fashion (2024), Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse (2022), Gabrielle Chanel: Fashion Manifesto (2021), The Krystyna Campbell-Pretty Fashion Gift (2019), Collecting Comme (2019), The House of Dior: Seventy Years of Haute Couture (2017), Viktor & Rolf: Fashion Artists (2016), Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk (2014), Express Yourself: Romance Was Born for Kids (2014), Together Alone: Australian and New Zealand Fashion (2009), Martin Grant, Paris (2005), and Akira Isogawa: Printemps-Été (2004).

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