Fashions on the Field shaping the future

Whitehouse Institute of Design student Victoria Cananzi stole the spotlight in the 2024 Fashions on the Field Emerging Designer Award with her stunning silk, backless dress featuring a boned bodice – a design so elegant and polished it earned her the $48,000 prize package, including an immersive experience with Vogue Japan.

The 2024 Emerging Designer Award at the Melbourne Cup Carnival celebrated a new wave of talent in Australian fashion, with Victoria Cananzi firmly in the spotlight. Her winning creation, a silk yoryu and sheer organza backless dress with a meticulously structured boned bodice, captivated the judges with its delicate balance of innovation and timeless elegance.

Cananzi’s collection, Dulce, is an introspective exploration of womanhood, authenticity, and raw beauty.

“The collection delves into the progression of authenticity and veracity in the expression of womanhood.”

“Through elements of textural contrast and fluidity through drape, it explores the hyper fixation on feminine appearance rather than the charm in raw beauty and innovative simplicity. The objective is to evoke deep emotional resonance and to awaken a sense of familiarity in the true essence of what it means to be a woman.”

Her backless silk dress, the standout piece, embodies this ethos perfectly, blending structured and fluid elements to express both strength and softness. “My greatest challenge was achieving harmony between my structured boned bodice and the fluid
elements within my backless dress design,” Cananzi reflects.

Drawing inspiration from the natural world, Cananzi translates organic forms and textures into her garments, seamlessly weaving them into classic yet innovative designs.

“The natural world inspires my thoughtful consideration in textural elements, organic forms, and my take on raw beauty.

Reimagining traditional silhouettes challenges the fine line between classic organic drape and experimentation with structural forms,”
she says.

The recognition from Vogue Australia marks a pivotal moment in her burgeoning career. “It feels surreal,” Cananzi says. “Acknowledgement from Vogue Australia feels like a leap in the right direction for my future within the fashion industry and a true honour that I’m beyond grateful to be a part of.”

Cananzi credits her studies at the Whitehouse Institute of Design for shaping her approach. “I’ve discovered that innovation isn’t always the boldest, brightest design feature,” she says. “Oftentimes, innovation prioritises a garment’s versatility and resonance with the ever-evolving landscape of day-to-day wearability. I ground my designs in classic silhouettes while exploring modern textures and techniques that push commercial womenswear.”

The designer was encouraged to enter the Emerging Designer Award by her mentors.

“I entered the competition feeling a strong sense of warmth from a community that I knew understood my vision.”

For aspiring designers, Cananzi has one piece of advice: “Stay true to you. The advice of your mentors and industry connections will push you to challenge ideas that only time and experience can gift you, however, it is important to listen to and trust the designer voice within. You guide this journey. Allow others to help you, but allow yourself to guide you.”