MAXXAM® and Graduate Fashion Foundation Launch Second Annual Design Competition to Shape the Future of Sustainable Athleisure
London, United Kingdom – December 2025 – Following the outstanding success of its inaugural year, MAXXAM®, the iconic textile brand founded by visionary designer and inventor Rosemary Moore, has announced its renewed partnership with the Graduate Fashion Foundation (GFF) to launch the second edition of their innovative national design competition.
This initiative invites fashion students from across the UK and internationally to reimagine the future of womenswear through a trend-led Spring/Summer 2027 capsule collection using MAXXAM’s celebrated seamless, four-way stretch textiles.
Building on the momentum and exceptional talent showcased previously, the 2025/26 competition challenges entrants to create a forward-thinking collection with a strong spotlight on interchangeable, multipurpose athleisure-inspired pieces.
The brief places particular emphasis on swimwear, honouring MAXXAM’s heritage as the textile that redefined body-con dressing and one-size-fits-all silhouettes.
Open to second- and final-year students from GFF member universities, participants are encouraged to explore new stripe variations, jacquards, surface effects, and sustainable design strategies.
This focus reflects the brand’s ongoing commitment to low-waste manufacturing and its transition toward bio-based fibres.
Rosemary Moore, inventor of the original MAXXAM® fabric, commented on the importance of educational engagement. “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.”
First created in the early 1980s, MAXXAM® became a global phenomenon for its distinctive crinkle texture, technical innovation, and body-inclusive fit.
It earned its place in popular culture, on international runways, and within the permanent collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Today, the brand continues to evolve, offering designers fresh creative opportunities through new textures, scuba-inspired surfaces, and sustainable yarn developments.
Nicola Hitchens, Managing Director of Graduate Fashion Foundation, stated, “We’re pleased to be partnering with MAXXAM textiles for the MAXXAM Capsule Collection Textile Competition for the second year running - creating an exciting opportunity for young talents to design with an original textile. Here at Graduate Fashion Foundation, we’re dedicated to driving new innovations, supporting talent and focused on the future of fashion. This competition encapsulates those values, and we’re excited to see what the students produce.”
Three finalists will be selected to produce one full look from their submitted range, working hands-on with MAXXAM Textiles and its UK manufacturing partners.
These final looks will be showcased at Graduate Fashion Week 2026, displayed within the exhibition and modelled on the catwalk during the prestigious Gala Show.
About Graduate Fashion Foundation
The Graduate Fashion Foundation is a charitable organisation dedicated to bridging the gap between education and employment.
It organizes Graduate Fashion Week, the world's largest showcase of BA fashion talent, highlighting the work of students from over 40 UK and international universities.
