Rise to the Runway Fashion Industry and Design Awards

TAFE Queensland Diploma of Event Management students have the opportunity to collaborate with industry professionals as they get hands-on experience at the Gold Coast’s first Rise to the Runway event happening Saturday 29 October.  The prestigious fashion extravaganza will be at TAFE Queensland’s new Robina Campus, in alignment with the sustainability angle of the fashion show.

Rise to the Runway will showcase emerging and student fashion designers, while using the event as a vehicle to drive connections with industry professionals, grow designer confidence and build pathways to a successful career in fashion for local designers.  

Audra Broughton, TAFE Queensland’s event management teacher, along with students have been working closely with the event organiser, Summer Brown as part of their end of year assessment.

Ms Broughton said there are major benefits for our event students in collaborating with the Rise to the Runway Fashion Industry and Design awards.

“The students have been working on this event since March; they have had the opportunity to gain invaluable hands-on experience working alongside a client seeing first-hand what challenges may occur in an event setting.”

“Students have had direct exposure to all elements of event planning including venue selection, catering, marketing, event orders, run sheets, risk assessments, sponsorships proposals and much more.”

“This weekends’ event brings much anticipation and excitement as the students form an integral part of the event set-up and execution”, she said.

TAFE Queensland alumni and current event organiser, Summer Brown said being a student at TAFE has certainly changed since she attended and that it’s incredible to see students learning through industry experience.

“Students have been involved from event conception to delivery, giving them real-life experience and understanding of the everchanging landscape of developing an event.”

“Rise to the Runway, Emerging Fashion Design Awards provides a launchpad for emerging designers to debut their fashion brand, there are 23 entrants registered in six different categories with four of those being TAFE Queensland fashion students.”

Event management student Paige Sundell said it is fundamental we gain real world experience before going out there on our own.

“Most of the time when you finish your studies you are propelled into a chaotic world that is nothing like the cosy learning space you are used to and with TAFE Queensland it has been amazing to have the opportunity to gain real world hands-on experience”, she said.

For more information on studying events with TAFE Queensland please visit https://tafeqld.edu.au/

For more information on Rise to the Runway please visit https://risetotherunway.com.au/