I’ve just uploaded the Swimwear photos I took from the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival 2009. These were taken on Day 1 at Portside.

Click here to view and download the Swimwear Photos

Some of the photos took a little editing to remove some of the shadowing caused by the harsh sunlight directly above.

NRA Fashion Awards 2009 – Birikini – Rising Star Award Winner

Read more about the NRA Fashion Rising Star Award here

Fashion Festival Attracts Top Talent

The fashion stakes are high and the competition fierce as some of Australia’s most talented designers vie for the nation’s top fashion honours in the National Final of the 28th NRA Australian Fashion Design Awards presented by AMP Capital Shopping Centres on Wednesday 8 April.

As Australia’s premier fashion competition, the Awards showcase the best of today’s designers and discover the talent of tomorrow, providing designers with an extraordinary platform to showcase their talents to the shopping public nationally.

27 designer finalist entries were selected from a field of almost 300 entries which all competed in the preliminary judging heats held on the Gold Coast and nationally from 31 March to 3 April 2009.

The most nominated finalists in this year’s Awards include two recent Supreme Award winners:
Lisa Brown (Lisa Brown)
Brad Webb (Darb Bridal Couture)

The finalists are:

Student Designs presented by Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre
Jessica Chatterton, Metropolitan South Institute of Tafe, Indooroopilly, Queensland
Ben Garrett, Metropolitan South Institute of Tafe, Dutton Park, Queensland
Nomiki Glynatsis, Metropolitan South Institute of Tafe, Brookfield, Queensland
Prudence Grayson, Metropolitan South Institute of Tafe, Boondall, Queensland
Nicola Hall, Metropolitan South Institute of Tafe, Glebe, New South Wales
Ebony Harding, Swan Tafe, Winthrop, West Australia
Eva Huynh, RMIT Brunswick, North Balwyn, Victoria
Rebecca Timson, Curtin University of Technology, Kardinya, West Australia
Laura Zhu, University of Technology Sydney, Roseville, New South Wales

Ready to Wear presented by Conrad Jupiters
Lisa Brown, Lisa Brown, Clear Island Waters, Queensland – 2 finalist entries [LIFESTYLE]
Birikini, Kylie Pizzirani & Chelsea Hillbrick, Mooloolaba, Queensland [KIDS]
eeni meeni miini moh, Elizabeth O’Connor-Cowley, Milton, Queensland [KIDS]
Little Workers, Ivanka Belic, Paddington, Queensland [KIDS]
Tayla-Lu, Nerina Gugliemino, Carindale, Queensland [KIDS]

Daniel Alexander Couture, Daniel Alexander, Fortitude Valley, Queensland [SWIM]
White Sands, Leah Madden, Broadbeach, Queensland [SWIM]
Lisa Blue, Maree Elizabeth Coates, Tweed Heads, New South Wales [SWIM]

SIGNATURE DESIGNS presented by Sony Centre
Brides Desire by Airs & Graces, Wendy Sullivan, West End, Queensland [BRIDAL]
Darb Bridal Couture, Brad Webb, Brisbane, Queensland – 2 finalist entries [BRIDAL]
Lisa Brown, Lisa Brown, Clear Island Waters, Queensland [BRIDAL]
Strictly Bridal, Ann Wilson, Mudgeeraba, Queensland [BRIDAL]

Darb Bridal Couture, Brad Webb, Brisbane, Queensland [COUTURE]
Dimitria Bridal Couture, Dimitria Kal & Christina Kal, Albert Park, Queensland [COUTURE]

Darb Bridal Couture, Brad Webb, Brisbane, Queensland [FASHIONS ON THE FIELD]
Taree Birse, Taree Birse, Southport, Queensland [FASHIONS ON THE FIELD]

VIEWERS CHOICE presented by AMP Capital Shopping Centres

Forever New, Knox Shopping Centre, Victoria
Peter Alexander, Warringah Mall, New South Wales
Sussan, Macquarie Centre, New South Wales
Veronika Maine, Garden City Booragoon, West Australia
Venus and Apollon, Pacific Fair Shopping Centre, Queensland
Witchery, Karrinyup Shopping Centre, West Australia

Finalists from the Ready to Wear and Signature Designs categories will be competing for the Rising Star Award and the ultimate accolade – the AMP Capital Shopping Centres Supreme Award.

Australia’s best student designer will also be announced on the night, as well as the winner of the NEXT New York National Model Search.

The Supreme Award winner will receive a Sony Centre Entertainment Package valued at $5,000 and the Supreme Award trophy.

FOR PHOTOS AND LATEST RESULTS REGISTER AT http://www.fashionscene.com.au