Amy Brown Named Winner of MAXXAM® x Graduate Fashion Foundation Design Competition at Graduate Fashion Week Gala Show

Amy Brown Named Winner of MAXXAM® x Graduate Fashion Foundation Design Competition at Graduate Fashion Week Gala Show

Textile innovator, fashion designer and founder of MAXXAM®, Rosemary Moore, in collaboration with Graduate Fashion Foundation (GFF), is proud to announce Amy Brown from the University of Central Lancashire as the winner of the 2026 MAXXAM® x Graduate Fashion Foundation Design Competition.

The winner was revealed during the prestigious Graduate Fashion Week Gala Show on 18 June 2026, where Amy's final design was showcased on the catwalk alongside the work of fellow finalists Hisham Ramadan from City University Malaysia, Jenna Lad from Nottingham Trent University and Madeline Foex from De Montfort University.

Widely regarded as one of the fashion industry's most important annual events for emerging talent, Graduate Fashion Week attracts leading designers, retailers, brands, recruiters and media from across the UK and internationally. The Gala Show represents the pinnacle of the week-long event, celebrating the most outstanding student work and providing finalists with a unique platform to present their designs to influential industry figures.

Now in its second year, the MAXXAM® x Graduate Fashion Foundation Design Competition challenged students from leading universities across the UK and internationally to create a trend-led S/S 2027 womenswear capsule collection using MAXXAM®'s innovative seamless, four-way stretch textiles. Entrants were tasked with developing versatile, multipurpose athleisure-inspired designs, with a particular focus on swimwear, sustainability and commercial viability.

Following a highly competitive selection process, four finalists were chosen to develop one full look from their capsule collections, working closely with MAXXAM® and its UK manufacturing partners to bring their concepts to life.

Amy's collection, The Swim Club: Volume 1, impressed the judges with its playful yet commercially relevant interpretation of retro swimwear culture. Drawing inspiration from vintage beachwear and sports styling, the collection combined bold colour blocking, stripe detailing and adaptable silhouettes, resulting in a versatile range of pieces designed to transition effortlessly from beachwear to everyday dressing.

Commenting on the judging process, Rosemary Moore said: "Once again, I have been incredibly impressed by the standard of work submitted this year. All of the finalists carried their original concepts through to their finished garments to a very high standard and should be extremely proud of what they have achieved.

"There were two students in particular who stood out because of their ability to successfully translate their original designs into beautifully executed finished pieces - Jenna Lad and Amy Brown. The skills they demonstrated were exceptional and it made choosing an overall winner incredibly difficult. Had it been possible, we would have awarded a joint prize as the standard between them was so close.

"Ultimately, Amy interpreted the brief exceptionally well and demonstrated a very high standard of sewing and garment construction throughout her final pieces. Her collection showed a strong understanding of both the creative and commercial opportunities offered by MAXXAM® textiles, making her a very worthy winner."

Amy Brown said: “Winning the MAXXAM® x Graduate Fashion Foundation Design Competition is an incredible achievement and one that I'm extremely proud of. Coming from a background working mainly with menswear, heavy fabrics and tweeds, this project challenged me to step outside my comfort zone and explore womenswear using stretch textiles in a completely different way.

"The experience has been invaluable. Working with Rosemary and the MAXXAM® team has taught me so much about textile innovation, garment development and bringing a concept through to a finished product. I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity and excited to see where it takes me next as I begin my career in the fashion industry."

As overall winner, Amy receives the MAXXAM® x Graduate Fashion Foundation trophy, a £250 cash prize and ongoing mentoring opportunities with Rosemary Moore and the MAXXAM® team. There is also the potential for elements of her winning designs to be explored for future commercial development.

The competition continues to celebrate the legacy of MAXXAM® while supporting the next generation of fashion talent, providing students with a unique opportunity to work directly with an iconic British textile brand and gain real-world industry experience.