In the fast-paced, highly competitive fashion industry, first impressions matter. For emerging designers, a media kit isn’t just a portfolio. It’s their business card, elevator pitch, and brand manifesto all in one. It’s the tool that can turn a fleeting opportunity into a long-term connection.
In 2024, Melbourne Fashion Hub (MFH) put this principle to the test. After providing information on the key things to include in a kit, we ran our Media Kit Competition. It was designed to give our designers the skills to present themselves professionally. It also gave them the chance to see their work in respected fashion media. The results spoke for themselves.
What is a Media Kit—and Why is it Essential?
A media kit is a polished, professionally designed document that introduces a brand/practice to the world. For a fashion designer, it should:
- Showcase the brand’s identity, values, and creative vision
- Present high-quality imagery of collections and products
- Provide essential business details for buyers, stylists, press, and collaborators
- Demonstrate readiness for industry opportunities
In short, it’s the bridge between creativity and commerce. It proves that a designer isn’t just making beautiful innovative work. They are also building a viable brand.
From the Studio to the Spotlight
To make this skill-building exercise even more powerful, MFH partnered with two influential fashion media platforms: The Vanilla Issue and To Be Magazine.
- The Vanilla Issue is a premium, visually rich fashion platform. Its audience includes stylists, buyers, and creative directors. It is known for spotlighting innovative and diverse talent.
- To Be Magazine is an international online and print platform. It covers cutting-edge design and cultural storytelling. The magazine has a strong global digital reach. This reach puts emerging designers on the radar of industry insiders.
Our challenge to designers was simple. Create a media kit that reflects your brand identity. It must also meet the highest professional standards. The winning kits would be rewarded with coveted features in these platforms.
The Standout Results
From a talented 2024/25 cohort, Marko Plavsic, Abha Gupta, and Xiaotao Shu produced outstanding media kits that won them features in The Vanilla Issue, positioning them alongside other notable creative talents.
Marko Plavsic’s kit went a step further—its clarity, design, and storytelling also earned him a dedicated feature in To Be Magazine, published 30 June 2025, introducing his brand to a global audience:
https://tobemagazine.com.au/marko-plavsic-is-taking-himself-seriously/
Why This Matters for Emerging Designers
This initiative proved that a well-crafted media kit can:
- Open doors to major press opportunities
- Build credibility instantly with buyers, stylists, and editors
- Differentiate a designer in an industry saturated with talent
- Turn creativity into commercial potential by framing work in a professional, market-ready way
For emerging designers, the media kit isn’t just admin—it’s an investment in being taken seriously, being remembered, and being chosen.
Melbourne Fashion Hub 
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