Rosemary Moore judging the 2026 entries
Textile innovator and MAXXAM® founder, Rosemary Moore, in collaboration with Graduate Fashion Foundation (GFF), has announced the four finalists of the second MAXXAM® x GFF design competition. Building on the success of its inaugural year, the competition continues to spotlight the next generation of fashion talent,challenging students from leading universities across the UK and internationally to reimagine contemporary womenswear using MAXXAM®’s signature seamless, four-way stretch textiles. This year’s finalists, Hisham Ramadan, from City University Malaysia, Amy Brown, from University of Central Lancashire, Jenna Lad, from Nottingham Trent University and Madeline Foex from De Montfort University, were selected for their innovative, forward-thinking responses to the brief, combining creativity, technical skill and commercial awareness.
Judged by Rosemary Moore alongside the team at Graduate Fashion Foundation, this year’s competition attracted an exceptional calibre of entries from emerging designers. Following a highly competitive selection process, four finalists have been chosen to progress to the next stage of the competition.
The Four finalists are:
Hisham Ramadan from City University Mayalsia, captivated the judges with a concept rooted in the fluid movement and organic structure of the seahorse, translating marine inspiration into a contemporary sportswear-focused womenswear collection. His designs explore layered construction, panelled silhouettes and gradient oceanic tones, combining technical performance with a refined, fashion-led aesthetic. Through the use of lightweight, breathable MAXXAM® fabrics and considered detailing, his collection balances functionality, comfort and modern femininity, creating pieces that feel both dynamic and commercially relevant.
Hisham Ramadan said, “I’m incredibly grateful to be selected as a finalist, it’s such an exciting opportunity to have my work recognised on this platform. To win would mean a huge step forward for me, both creatively and professionally, and it would give me the confidence to keep pushing my ideas further within the industry.”
Amy Brown from University of Central Lancashire’s collection, ‘The Swim Club: Volume 1’ stood out for its playful yet considered take on retro swimwear culture, reimagined through a contemporary lens. Drawing on nostalgic references from vintage beachwear and sports styling, her designs incorporate bold colour blocking, stripe detailing and adaptable silhouettes. With a strong focus on versatility, the collection features mix-and-match separates and multi-functional pieces designed to transition effortlessly from beach to everyday wear, showcasing a confident and commercially aware response to the brief.
Amy Brown explains, “Getting to this stage feels amazing and honestly quite surreal. I’ve put so much into this project, so to be recognised like this means a lot. Winning would be such an incredible opportunity and a real starting point for building my career in fashion.”
Jenna Lad from Nottingham Trent University presented ‘Coastal Layers’ a collection inspired by the textures and tonal landscape of the British coastline. Translating natural formations into abstract jacquard designs and layered silhouettes, her work combines soft mineral colour palettes with innovative textile development. A strong emphasis on sustainability and multi-purpose design runs throughout the collection, with garments designed to adapt across occasions while maintaining a refined, understated aesthetic. Her thoughtful integration of fabric, print and silhouette results in a cohesive and contemporary womenswear offering.
Jenna Lad said, “I’m really proud to have been selected as a finalist, especially alongside such strong work. It’s been a great experience developing this project, and to win would be an amazing achievement that would open up so many opportunities for me going forward.”
Madeline Foex from De Montfort University impressed with ‘MAXXAM x Opaline Swim’ a sophisticated and highly wearable collection centred on versatility and longevity. Her designs focus on convertible garments that seamlessly transition from swimwear to daywear, including multi-way dresses and adaptable silhouettes that can be styled in multiple ways. Working with both cord-textured and scuba variations of MAXXAM® fabric, she creates a balance of structure and fluidity, underpinned by a neutral, timeless colour palette. Her collection demonstrates a strong understanding of both the technical capabilities of the textile and the evolving demands of the modern consumer.
Madeline Foex explains, “I feel really honoured to be chosen as a finalist, it’s such a great opportunity to showcase my work. Winning would mean a lot to me and would really help me take the next step into the industry and continue developing my designs.”
Commenting on the calibre of this year’s finalists, Rosemary Moore said,:
Once again, I have been incredibly impressed by the standard of work submitted this year. The level of creativity, technical understanding and forward-thinking approach shown by the students has been outstanding. What makes this competition so important is the opportunity it creates, not just to recognise emerging talent, but to support and nurture the next generation of designers as they begin to shape the future of fashion. Selecting just four finalists was no easy task, and I’m very much looking forward to working with them as they bring their designs to life.”
The four finalists will now go on to develop one full look from their capsule collections, working closely with MAXXAM®’s UK manufacturing partners. Their designs will be showcased at Graduate Fashion Week 2026, where one overall winner will be selected by Rosemary Moore and announced live on the Gala runway.
