Rosemary Moore, inventor of the original and ground-breaking 4 way stretch and crinkle fabric MAXXAM®, is partnering with Graduate Fashion Foundation to launch an exciting competition. Fashion students across the country are invited to enter this unique opportunity with the winner receiving the coveted prize of working with Rosemary and her manufacturers and being showcased as part of the Graduate Fashion Week Gala Show and exhibition.
Rosemary says,
A partnership with Graduate Fashion Foundation is a perfect fit and I am excited to see what students evolve from the MAXXAM® fabrics, which are still in production today after 40 years and as relevant as ever with the fabrics unique properties for one-size-fits-all fashion.”
Rosemary Moore invented the unique MAXXAM® fabric in the early 1980s which took the fashion world by storm and became renowned for its 4-way stretch, tactile characteristics, and one-size-fits-all seamless clothing used predominantly for adult clothing and swimwear (you can also find it in The Victoria & Albert’s permanent collection).
The competition challenges fashion students to design a trend led womenswear S/S 2026 capsule collection utilising the famous fabrics. The capsule range should be timeless, multi-purpose and celebrate the fabric’s history, including a minimum of one piece of swimwear. Judged by Rosemary and the team at Graduate Fashion Foundation, a shortlist of 3 winners will showcase looks in the Graduate Fashion Week Gala Show and exhibition (13th– 16th June 2025 at the Truman Brewery, Shoreditch). Rosemary will select a final overall winner who will receive the coveted prize of working directly with Rosemary and her manufacturers on their designs with the chance of one of their pieces going into manufacture.
Maxxam in Bond-Eye swimwear
Nicola Hitchens, Charity and Event Director at Graduate Fashion Foundation said,:
It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with Rosemary to launch the MAXXAM® Textiles design competition to our member universities. A brand so rich in history and with such a distinct textile offers the students a chance to explore their designs and push boundaries. The additional support of MAXXAM® dead stock fabric donations to select UK universities is so vital at this time. We really look forward to seeing the entries and the designs come to life on the catwalk at GFW this year.”
The competition closes on the 2nd April 2025 with judging taking place 7th-11th April. The students design journey can be followed on GFF social channels using the #GFFxMAXXAM.
