In 2023, final-year students in RMIT’s Fashion Enterprise Partnered Project course were given a challenge by iconic eyewear brand Le Specs: design a concept capsule that fused creative vision with commercial appeal. With guidance from industry mentors, students delivered bold, thoughtful responses, learning to balance aesthetics, sustainability, and real-world commercial constraints.
The result? Le Siren: a collection inspired by a futuristic fusion of mermaid and rave culture. Le Specs was so impressed, they released the collection commercially and proudly shared it on social media: “Introducing our new Le Specs ‘Le Siren’ collection... The winning students’ collection has already been requested by Justin Bieber’s team".
This is just one example of the transformative work happening. Across three years, RMIT’s Product Development stream embeds Career Development Learning, helping students identify, reflect on, and articulate their evolving professional identities. They complete skills audits, SWOT analyses, and develop portfolios that prepare them not just to graduate, but to truly compete.
Students feel the difference. One reflected, “The best part of this course is having industry opportunities and making work I can use in a job interview". Another shared, “I am confident that I have demonstrated strong initiative and adopted a leadership role in team settings… which has benefited in achieving a high standard of work”.
Data collected across the university clearly shows how this approach is helping students feel more prepared for their future careers. In 2021, 3% of the students in this program felt fully ready to compete for jobs in the fashion industry. By 2024, almost one in five students (18%) reported feeling confident and fully prepared to enter the job market.
At the same time, the number of students who felt clear about their career direction and ready to take the next step (being ‘sorted’) also grew significantly. In 2021, less than 4% of students felt this way. By 2024, that number had increased to nearly 16%.
Industry partners also feel the impact. Caprice Australia’s CEO noted: “We are always blown away by the standard of both their presentation skills and the projects and ranges".
Carolina’s work is more than teaching: students gain technical skills and discover who they are, how they work best, and what kind of future they want to shape. Through the initiative, students leave as confident, career-ready professionals, prepared for the industry and the future.

One of the most powerful learnings from this journey has been the impact of cognitive dissonance in student learning: how placing students in real-world, high-stakes situations, often outside their comfort zone, can trigger deep transformation. Students who once questioned their place in the fashion industry have found clarity and confidence after presenting to brands like Hugo Boss or seeing their designs brought to life commercially by Le Specs. These authentic engagements foster not only technical skills but a strong sense of professional identity.
Another unexpected insight is how eager industry partners are to collaborate because they genuinely see value in co-creating with students. What began as classroom engagement has evolved into meaningful, ongoing partnerships where industry co-develops briefs, shapes learning materials, and even funds research. These collaborations grow because of mutual benefit.
A key takeaway is that industry-engaged education doesn’t require large budgets: it requires demand intention, structure, and care. Every project, from first-year labs to final-year capstones, is scaffolded to build students’ technical skills and career confidence. Career Development Learning is embedded at every step through reflective practice, skills audits, and interview preparation, helping students recognise and articulate their growth.
For those considering a similar path, the advice is simple: start with empathy, understand the students’ needs and fears, and build meaningful connections to industry. Remain open to reflection and feedback: it’s through this openness that real innovation, and transformation can thrive.

Carolina’s vision is to strengthen the connection between industry, education, research, and social impact, expanding the reach of fashion education to prepare students for employment and empower them to shape the future of the industry.
The next step is the development of a digital portfolio platform to help students curate and reflect on their learning journeys, from first year through to graduation across all areas of knowledge. This will support them in visualising their growth in meaningful ways.
Carolina is also co-developing an alumni podcast series with graduates who have transitioned into industry roles, many of whom began through internships facilitated by the program. These stories will create a valuable feedback loop of mentorship and inspiration, giving current students insights into real-world pathways and the lasting impact of their education.
At the course level, the initiative aims to expand the sustainability focus of partnered projects by creating new briefs with industry that address ethical sourcing, circular design, and innovation. These will be mapped against the UN Sustainable Development Goals, offering students fresh challenges alongside companies that share these values.
Work will also continue with external university’s to extend this model into other disciplines, further strengthening the bridge between academic learning and practical, real-world outcomes.
Finally, the initiative seeks to expand its global footprint, with growing interest from international partners in developing projects that foster cross-cultural design and innovation while addressing shared global challenges.
At the heart of Carolina’s future plans is a commitment to meaningful, future-focused education that equips students with the confidence, skills, and voice to lead in an evolving industry.