Students studying fashion design in Australia are getting a unique opportunity to take their creativity to the next level — thanks to an exciting new collaboration between Australian sheepskin footwear brand Everau and the Whitehouse Institute of Design, Australia.

The Everau Design Awards 2025 challenges second-year fashion design students at Whitehouse to explore the future of the iconic Australian ugg boot through the lens of Gen Z fashion. The competition is embedded into Whitehouse’s fashion curriculum, specifically the wool design module, supported by Australian Wool Innovation (AWI). Students across the Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane campuses submitted three original footwear concepts, interpreting Everau’s brief through trend forecasting, sustainability, and streetwear culture.

“At Everau, we see an opportunity to reposition the ugg as a relevant part of today’s fashion wardrobe,” said branding and marketing manager Tina Dong. “We want to inspire the next generation of designers to update its meaning — combining timeless silhouettes with bold, fashion-forward thinking.”

This real-world fashion industry brief gives students not only the chance to design with commercial potential but also gain valuable exposure to what it takes to succeed in Australia’s fashion industry. Whitehouse Executive Director Leanne Whitehouse noted how valuable these experiences are for emerging designers:

“Students rarely get to work on real industry briefs with commercial potential,” she said. “Everau is offering that chance — allowing them to turn ideas into tangible outcomes and possibly launch their first commercially licensed design.”

Winners of the Everau Whitehouse Design Awards 2025 were announced this month, with Kiera Goerke, Hayley Smyth, and Arianna Hyytinen recognised for their innovative and youthful footwear concepts. While this year’s submissions remain conceptual, Everau has hinted at a long-term vision to turn these designs into reality.

The project aligns with Whitehouse Institute’s broader mission to equip students with the skills, creativity, and professional experience to thrive in the fashion world. Whether students are aiming to become fashion designers, footwear developers, or brand collaborators, opportunities like these provide a critical stepping stone.

Everau’s ongoing commitment to local Australian fashion talent is well established. In 2024, the brand teamed up with Verner for Australian Fashion Week, producing runway-exclusive ugg boots and slippers. In 2025, Everau collaborated with designers Alix Higgin and Nagnata, further cementing its role in the intersection of heritage craftsmanship and contemporary fashion.

For students pursuing a Bachelor of Design (Fashion Design) in Australia, partnerships like this reinforce why hands-on learning, industry collaboration, and design innovation are essential for breaking into the global fashion scene.

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