Billy Blue takes centre stage at Brisbane Fashion Month 2025

At the heart of the month-long celebration, our students and graduates from Billy Blue College of Design prove why we’re Australia's leading design school for cross-disciplinary creativity.

This year marked our third consecutive partnership with Fashion Queensland and Brisbane Fashion Month (BFM), and it was our most impactful showing yet. Across three major showcases – West Village, Cutting Edge, and the Emerging Designer Runway, Billy Blue talent made headlines, launched brands and captured imaginations.

West Village Showcase

Held on October 9, the West Village Showcase was a true celebration of alumni success. Sallyanne Astill, a Billy Blue graduate and founder of Astille was a major showing at the event. Sallyanne’s journey is as inspiring as her high-end designs. After 25 years in computer science, she pivoted into fashion, proving it's never too late to chase creative ambition.

Joining her were Natalie and Tahnee Sommerfeld, the powerhouse sisters behind Sommerfeld. This duo launched their label while still studying at Billy Blue, leveraging the support from our academics and industry connections. Their Brisbane Fashion Month debut was a declaration of intent: stylish, confident and commercially savvy. Brisbane took notice.

Sallyanne Astille – Billy Blue alumna and founder of Astille

Cutting Edge

On October 22, five select designers were challenged to create fashion inspired by scientific research. In collaboration with the University of Queensland's Institute for Molecular Bioscience, students explored how science and design can inform one another.

It was more than a creative exercise, it was a masterclass in concept development, research-led design and storytelling. Following in the footsteps of alumnus Joshua Djordjewitsch, who in 2024 created a piece inspired by stroke intervention treatments from spider venom, this year’s cohort produced garments that blurred the lines between biology and fashion. Designer duo Tahnee and Natalie Sommerfeld created a layered look inspired by Dr Brett McKinnon’s research into endometriosis treatment which struck a chord with the audience.

Cutting Edge demonstrated what happens when creativity is grounded in curiosity, a core value of the Billy Blue philosophy.

Emerging Designer Showcase

Capping off the month on October 26, the Brisbane Emerging Designer Showcase was a powerful finale and a proud moment for Billy Blue.

Four designers unveiled their debut collections on the runway, each expressing a distinct vision and brand story:

• Willow Miles, recipient of the inaugural Fashion Queensland Emerging Designer Scholarship, launched Sallows. Her collection, ATRIUM, explored the tension between natural landscapes and constructed environments – architectural yet organic.
• Dominique Gubby introduced ILENIQUE RESORT with the Zephyria collection – a premium resort wear range inspired by gentle breezes, fluidity and subtropical escapism. Hand-drawn prints, recycled sea glass beads, and repurposed organza underlined her commitment to ethical design.
• Paula Duncan showcased Fluid, a brand dedicated to movement, freedom and sustainable silhouettes. With intentional choices and effortless form, Fluid lived up to its name.
• Kelly Bingham, founder of Lovelorn July, presented Letters from Summer’s Past. Her standout piece, The Flower Press Dress, was a dreamy, nostalgic homage to young love, layered, embroidered and wrapped in sheer silk organza like pressed petals in tissue.

This was more than a runway. It was a launchpad for designers who set trends instead of following them.

Willow Miles, Dominique Gubby, Paula Duncan and Kelly Bingham.

A scholarship that changes the game

Central to this year’s narrative is the Fashion Queensland Emerging Designer Scholarship, a growing legacy of our partnership with Fashion Queensland. Currently supporting three Billy Blue students, and with a fourth set to join in 2026, the scholarship is not just financial support, it’s a career catalyst.

Scholarship recipients receive direct industry exposure, mentorship and real-world experience – exactly what aspiring fashion designers need to cut through a competitive market.

Congratulations to Kristy, our 2025 winner who has commenced studying a Bachelor of Branded Fashion Design under the mentorship of our academic team and Laura Churchill of Fashion Queensland.

Real partnerships that create real outcomes

The strength of our ongoing partnership with Fashion Queensland and Brisbane Fashion Month lies in shared values: creativity, community, and backing bold ideas.

Laura Churchill, Director at Fashion Queensland, said: “Working with so many Billy Blue students across the year, it’s always incredible to see the depth and breadth of talent coming through. There’s a definite focus from the college on industry-relevant education and while creativity is important, I think having access to these real time opportunities gives students a sense of where they want to head with their careers, which is so valuable at this stage.”

At Billy Blue, we don’t just showcase talent, we help shape it. And we don’t just celebrate fashion, we redefine its future.

As Brisbane Fashion Month wrapped its 10th year, the message was clear: Billy Blue designers are not waiting for permission, they’re building their own brands, platforms and legacies.

“Because Fashion Queensland has been working with Billy Blue for many years now, it’s so rewarding to see students like Sally Astill and Natalie and Tahnee Sommerfeld going on to launch their own successful brands and showcasing at a professional level at Brisbane Fashion Month and Cutting Edge,” added Laura.

“We’re so proud and honoured to be a part of every student’s journey.”

From science-inspired couture to ethically produced resort wear, from digital natives launching their labels while studying to career changers proving age is no barrier, our students are making the right kind of trouble.

Ready to launch your fashion career?

If you're ready to sketch your future, sew your vision, and build a brand that matters, explore the Fashion Queensland Emerging Designer Scholarship and the Bachelor of Branded Fashion Design.

Design your legacy. Start at Billy Blue.