Student Designers Make a Bold Statement in Fashion Journal's COLOUR THEORY Editorial

Shot by renowned photographer Jordan Drysdale and creatively directed by Aleks Markovic, the editorial celebrates radical self-expression through bold silhouettes, high-gloss textiles, and whimsical styling. Leah Wilkinson’s avant-garde design takes centre stage, worn by model Achan Meshwang (Chadwick Models), whose striking pose and presence perfectly captured the energy of the piece.

In addition to their design contributions, Valentina Barrios and Caroline Caroline also worked behind the scenes as stylist assistants to acclaimed fashion stylist Stuart Walford, further showcasing their versatility and professionalism across multiple aspects of the fashion industry.

“Having three of our students contribute to such a high-profile editorial not only reflects their individual talent and creativity but also underscores LCI Melbourne’s commitment to work-integrated learning and authentic industry engagement. Our students aren’t just preparing for the industry—they’re already shaping it,” shared Adriano Di Prato, Campus Director, LCI Melbourne.

This exciting feature comes just weeks before Leah, Valentina, and Caroline will showcase their collections on the runway at Melbourne Fashion Week’s Student Collections Runway, where they will join five other talented LCI Melbourne Fashion & Costume Design students in front of a live industry audience.

Opportunities like these are part of LCI Melbourne’s Different by Design approach, placing students in real-world creative ecosystems and encouraging them to build professional networks while still studying. Whether behind the camera, in front of it, or on the runway, LCI students are immersed in industry practice from day one.

“Being part of this shoot was such an inspiring experience. Being on set, helping out, and contributing to the project was amazing. Seeing everything come together and having one of my designs featured in the styling and printed in the final images made it even more exciting and special,” shared Valentina Barrios, Emerging Fashion Designer and LCI Melbourne student.

As the fashion world increasingly seeks bold, interdisciplinary voices, it’s clear that these three students are already making their mark and this is only the beginning.

Discover more about studying Fashion & Costume Design at LCI Melbourne: Fashion | Melbourne