They know what to do with denim

With Australian designers beginning to take on the world, 17 of the regions up and coming fashion gurus are hoping a nationwide competition will provide the vehicle to launch their own careers down the catwalk.

Now in its fourth year, the "?Do it with Denim' national competition provides an opportunity for tertiary students to receive a leg up into the fashion industry while also helping raise the profile of "?Jeans for Genes Day'.

Students are asked to redesign jeans into a fashionable and wearable garment using only famous daredevils or those that dare to be different as inspiration.

"The girls have definitely come up with some pretty diverse stuff, not really day to day clothing, more catwalk style I'd say. I'm quite happy with the results," West Wollongong TAFE teacher, Kylie Lamb who has 17 of her Certificate IV in Fashion Design students entering the competition said.

"They have used a wide range of influences in making the garments and it really shows, they are all incredibly different. This competition gives the girls the chance to put all their skills together.

"It is only a one - year course we offer here and many of the girls will go from here to open their own business while others will continue on and further their studies in Sydney. This competition provides the girls with a chance to let their imagination go, have some fun and make something different while using a range of skills."

With plans to continue studying Theatre Fashion at NIDA next year, TAFE student Boni Cairncross said the competition gave students a chance to express themselves creatively while also gaining industry experience.

"I want to study theatre design because it is a little more outrageous and it has more of a purpose," she said. "I tried to make my design a bit different because my inspiration was Marcel Duchamp and he was very much a daredevil who used to like mocking and creating stuff for shock value.

"?It's been fun the competition is a good idea. It was great seeing everybody's work this morning."

A National Winner will be selected from the state/territory finalists and announced at the Celebrity Jeans Art Auction Event on July 12, 2007. The National Winner will receive prizes and opportunities valued at over $11,000.