Textile innovator and MAXXAM Founder, Rosemary Moore, in collaboration with the 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 the University of Central Lancashire, Jenna Lad from Nottingham Trent University, and Madeline Foex from De Montfort University – were selected for their innovative and forward-thinking responses to the brief, combining creativity, technical skill, and commercial awareness.
Judged by Rosemary Moore alongside the team at the Graduate Fashion Foundation, this year’s competition attracted an exceptionally high calibre of entries from emerging designers. Following a highly competitive selection process, four finalists have now been chosen to progress to the next stage of the competition.
The four finalists are:
- Hisham Ramadan from City University Malaysia impressed the judges with a marine-inspired womenswear collection influenced by the movement and structure of the seahorse. Focused on contemporary sportswear, his designs feature layered construction, panelled silhouettes, and oceanic tones, combining performance, comfort, and modern femininity.
- Amy Brown from the University of Central Lancashire stood out with The Swim Club: Volume 1, a playful reinterpretation of retro swimwear. Her collection incorporates bold colour blocking, stripe detailing, and versatile, mix-and-match pieces designed to transition from beach to everyday wear.
- Jenna Lad from Nottingham Trent University presented Coastal Layers, inspired by the textures and tones of the British coastline. Her collection features abstract jacquards, layered silhouettes, and a soft mineral palette, with a strong focus on sustainability and multi-purpose design.
- Madeline Foex from De Montfort University showcased MAXXAM x Opaline Swim, a versatile collection centred on convertible garments that transition from swimwear to daywear. Using textured and scuba MAXXAM fabrics, her designs balance structure and fluidity with a timeless, neutral palette.
Top left: Hisham Ramadan. Top right: Madeline Foex. Bottom left: Amy Brown. Bottom right: Jenna Lad
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.
