Sep 21, 2026
Combining timeless elegance and pared-back restraint, emerging designer Tiah Hough has created an eye-catching evening gown which has won the top prize at the Burnside Village RSVP Ready Fashion Design Awards.
Tiah, who is studying the Bachelor of Creative Arts - Fashion with TAFE SA and Flinders University, has won a two-week internship with leading Australian fashion brand Aje and a $1500 Burnside Village gift card.
The RSVP Ready Fashion Design Awards, presented by Burnside Village, provides a platform for the TAFE SA/Flinders University fashion students to showcase their creative talents, producing themed outfits for a competition and exhibition at the premier shopping centre.
This year’s theme, RSVP Ready - ‘What would Audrey wear?’ was inspired by the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s and invited students to capture actress Audrey Hepburn’s iconic style with a contemporary edge.
Tiah says the most challenging part of the design was striking a balance between meeting the brief and showing her own style.
“I wanted to keep my design timeless and elegant. I wanted it to stand out but not for being too overwhelming. I’ve learnt a lot about pulling a design back - it can be more impactful,” she says.
Her winning outfit (pictured front, right) featured a black strapless gown embellished with a white sash worn on one arm and draped across the body.
“I learnt so much through the process of making it. My dress was quite simple but learning about internal structure, the things that you can’t see on the outside that provide shape, was important and I can use those skills for my graduate collection,” she says.
Tiah has been sewing since she was at primary school, learning initially on her grandmother’s sewing machine and says a career in fashion has always beckoned.
“I came into the course knowing how to sew, but I didn’t know much about finishing, the technical skills. I’ve learnt so much, made some connections and benefitted from the knowledge of the lecturers,” she says.
Tiah, who balances her study with work at Adelaide fashion studio Sally Phillips, says having her design on display at Burnside Village was a ‘wow’ moment and she enjoyed watching customers interact with the exhibition.
Hoping to one day specialise in red carpet and event wear, a “super excited” Tiah is appreciative of the internship with Aje, which she will undertake in mid-September.
“I’m so excited about the opportunity. I can’t wait to meet people and make new connections in the industry,” she says.
The 2026 RSVP Ready Fashion Design Awards winners are:
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which TAFE SA stands.
Freecall 1800 882 661