Maxxam and GFF Challenge Students to Reimagine Sustainable Swimwear for Graduate Fashion Week 2026

Building on the outstanding success of its inaugural year, textiles brand Maxxam has announced its renewed partnership with the Graduate Fashion Foundation (GFF) to launch the second edition of their national design competition. This collaboration seeks to build on the momentum, creativity, and exceptional talent showcased previously, inviting fashion students across the UK and internationally to participate.

The 2025/26 competition challenges second- and final-year students from GFF-member universities to create a trend-led womenswear S/S 2027 capsule collection. Entrants are specifically asked to reimagine the future of womenswear using Maxxam’s unique seamless, four-way stretch textiles. The brief places a strong spotlight on interchangeable, multipurpose athleisure-inspired pieces, with a particular emphasis on swimwear.

Students are encouraged to explore a range of design possibilities, including new stripe variations, jacquards, and surface effects. A significant focus of the competition is sustainable design strategies, reflecting Maxxam’s ongoing commitment to low-waste manufacturing and its transition toward bio-based fibres. The design process encourages participants to align their creations with these eco-conscious principles.

Following the submission phase, three finalists will be selected to bring their designs to life. Each finalist will produce one full look from their range, working hands-on with Maxxam Textiles and its UK manufacturing partners. These final garments will then be showcased during Graduate Fashion Week 2026, displayed within the exhibition space and prominently featured on the catwalk during the prestigious Gala Show.

The overall competition winner will be chosen from the three finalists. The winner will be awarded a trophy on the Gala runway on 18 June 2026, accompanied by a £250 cash prize and valuable industry mentoring experiences designed to further their professional development within the fashion sector.

Rosemary Moore, inventor of Maxxam’s original fabric, expressed her enthusiasm for the project: “We are excited once more to be part of GFW. It was a real pleasure connecting to the new generation of students last year and supporting them through the creative and the manufacturing process. We are aiming this year to also take them behind the scenes of our textile manufacturing in the midlands, especially if they offer creative concepts we can put into practice for them.”