FDS TAFE NSW – The Innovators

Fashion Design Studio (FDS) TAFE NSW has been at the forefront of Australian fashion education since 1955 and has held a prestigious place at Australian Fashion Week since 1999 as the country’s only graduate runway show. Renowned for championing innovation, diversity, inclusivity and creativity, FDS has launched the careers of some of Australia’s most exciting design talent, propelling them onto the national stage. Best known as The Innovators, FDS’s standout graduate showcase, designers are supported through The Next Garde—an industry-backed incubator launched in 2025. This forward-thinking mentorship program empowers emerging designers to redefine fashion through sustainability, ethical practice, digital innovation and a commitment to craftsmanship and local manufacturing. The FDS: The Innovators at Australian Fashion Week 2026 showcases the next wave of homegrown design talent, with emerging designers Luke Rutherford-Durney, Oliver Parry, Tate Boswarva and Zoe Markopoulos making their debut on one of Australia's most prestigious fashion stages.