Now in its third year, the scholarship aims to identify growing fashion talent and assist with international expansion, having previously helped to catapult Aussie designers We Are Handsome and Bec & Bridge onto the global stage.

A number of designers who entered the DHL Fashion Export Scholarship presented their lookbooks and business credentials to an esteemed panel of judges, including: Elle Persson Director, Strategy and Brand Development, IMG Fashion; designer Michael Lo Sordo who has achieved international success and was credited with representing Australia at this year’s G’day LA; and head buyer Madeleine Allman from the hugely successful my-wardrobe.com.

The finalists were selected on a mix of their international exporting potential, domestic success, design aesthetics and sound expansion strategy, with the judges agreeing on a final three of An Ode to No One, Shona Joy and Kahlo.

“While it was important for the finalists to have a strong design aesthetic it was equally important for us to consider how they would fare in the international market and whether their business was financially viable for global expansion,” Elle Persson said.

Madeleine Allman of my-wardrobe.com said that the competition had some amazing entrants to choose from.

“We could not beat the elegant, clean designs from An Ode to No One, the robust expansion strategy and domestic success of Shona Joy and the modern and trend setting potential of Kahlo,” Allman said.

Each finalist will be given the chance to showcase their designs in a professional photo shoot ahead of the winner being announced in the coming weeks. Gary Edstein, Senior Vice President of DHL Express Oceania said that DHL Express is proud to partner many brands and businesses in the fashion industry.

“It’s great to see the export potential of our finalists and we are delighted that the DHL Fashion Export Scholarship will help one of them realise their international exporting potential,” said Edstein.

The winner will be announced on Monday 9 July and will receive a tailored export mentoring program and international freight package to the value of $10,000 from DHL Express.

The scholarship is open to Australian fashion designers who have been exporting for less than four years.

The winner of the scholarship will receive international freight to the value of AU$10,000 and coaching in freight and logistics from DHL Express.