Quick Response Fashion Grants 25-26

Quick Response Fashion Grants
Quick Response Fashion Grants offer up to $10,000 for emerging designers, textile makers, and fashion businesses - prioritising First Nations, Western Sydney, and Regional NSW creatives.
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Key information

  • Status: Closed
  • Grant amount: Up to $10,000 individual grants
  • Application opened: 8 December 2025
  • Application closed: 29 May 2026, 2:00 pm

Program objective

Quick Response Fashion Grants support business development and industry engagement, with dedicated funding for First Nations designers, and applicants from Western Sydney and Regional NSW.  The Program will enable designers to purchase essential equipment or pursue professional development opportunities. 

The Program supports emerging fashion professionals and businesses to grow, helping sustain NSW’s fashion industry. Grants of up to $10,000 are available for:

  1. Professional development opportunities
  2. Purchase of equipment

The Program aims to provide opportunities for applicants to:   

  • Undertake professional development for their career progression 
  • Produce new works  
  • Show works in new ways  
  • Gain access to equipment to further their work  

The intended outcomes of the Program are: 

  • Skill and experience development  
  • Expanded professional networks across NSW  
  • Increased industry recognition (e.g. media, trade shows, publications) 

Image Credit: Citizen Wolf

This program is administered by Create NSW.

Eligibility

Who can apply

Be one of the following entity types:

  • a company incorporated in Australia
  • a partnership
  • an individual.

If you are an individual, you must: 

  • be 18 years or older     
  • be an Australian Citizen or a permanent resident of Australia
  • be currently living in NSW (minimum 12 months)     
  • studying or working in the fashion industry.

If you are applying as an organisation you must:

  • be located in NSW.

Applicants will need:  

  • an active Australian Business Number (ABN)     
  • a bank account with the same name as your ABN. 

Types of projects funded under this grant

For a grant activity to be eligible it must meet the following Funding Categories:

Professional Development

Industry specific:

  • Short courses
  • Competitions
  • Networking events
  • Travel and accommodation
  • Art and trade fairs registration
  • Lookbooks and portfolios
  • Conferences.

Purchase of Equipment

Industry specific:

  • Computer equipment and software 
  • Photographic equipment  
  • Clothing and textile manufacturing equipment and tools.

When the project can start and end

The project should be started by 1 March 2026 and the project must be completed by 31 December 2026.

What costs you can apply for

Funding may only be incurred on eligible or agreed activities.

To be eligible, costs must:

  • be a direct cost related to the eligible grant activities
  • be incurred within eligible grant activities
  • reflect competitive market rates
  • be a true and accurate reflection of costs required to deliver the activity.

Eligible costs include, but not be limited to:

  • computer equipment and software
  • photographic equipment
  • travel and accommodation
  • education
  • event registration/fees
  • Clothing and textile manufacturing equipment and tools
  • Design contractor/suppliers   
  • Conferences.   

If your application is successful, we may ask you to verify the project cost and request evidence of costs such as supplier contracts, quotes, invoices and receipts. We may request financial reports and credit checks from independent third-party service providers.

You must demonstrate value for money by ensuring project costs are reasonable and reflective of market rates. We may use industry cost benchmarks to assess whether costs are reasonable.

The Department will make the final decision on whether the claimed cost is eligible or reasonable and only pay the reasonable amount.

All eligible costs will be paid inclusive of GST.

Who can’t apply

You are not eligible to apply if you are:

  • insolvent
  • an unincorporated association
  • a tertiary institution
  • a Commonwealth, state, territory or local government agency or body excluding government corporate entities.

Additional eligibility requirements

The Program is a competitive, open grant process assessed using an application process.

The program is open from 8 December 2025 with monthly assessment meetings, until funds are exhausted. Applications submitted by 2pm on the last Friday of each month will be grouped together for assessment. Applicants will be notified of the decision within 3-4 weeks of this date.  

The activity start date must be after 01/03/2026 and the project end date must be before 31/12/2026.

Applications will be assessed by representatives of Create NSW and a representative from the fashion sector.

Number of applications 

Applicants are eligible for one grant through this program per financial year (based on closing date).

Please note: One application per applicant will be assessed. If more than one application is submitted an applicant will be asked to nominate which application is progressed for assessment and all other applications will be withdrawn from consideration. 

Pre-eligibility check 

Your application will be checked for eligibility. If eligible, your application will proceed to the next stage. 

If your application is deemed ineligible, you will be advised via email within 7 days of the from your submission and your application will not proceed to assessment. 

Priority applicants   

Priority will be given to applicants who are First Nations and from Western Sydney and Regional NSW.

The Department cannot consider your application if it does not satisfy all the eligibility criteria.  

The Department cannot award a grant if you receive funding from another government source for the same purpose.

Most recent recipients

All recipients (33)

What your application needs to include

1

Prepare your application with this checklist

To apply, applicants must:  

  • Read and understand these Grant Guidelines
  • Check your eligibility
  • Address all the eligibility criteria
  • Address all the relevant assessment criteria
  • Include all necessary attachments (letters of support)
  • Complete the detailed application form 
  • Submit the detailed application through the SmartyGrants portal  
2

Address the eligibility criteria

Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.

Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.

3

Address the assessment criteria

Criteria - Professional Development

Criterion 1: Fashion Experience (40%)

Evidence of fashion experience 

Provide a 300-word statement that outlines:   

  • Career to date  
  • Current industry experience 
  • Industry recognition, awards and achievements  

Optional:  Provide a Letter of Support  

Criterion 2: Impact on Career (30%)

The benefit to your career development, the significance of the opportunity and how this activity strengthens support for you as an emerging designer. 

  • Demonstrate that the program is unique and tailored to deliver specific benefits to your practice and/or business 
  • Provide a detailed evaluation method/plan to demonstrate outcomes and impacts for your practice and/or business 

Criterion 3: Viability of the Activity (30%)

Your capacity to undertake this activity and how the budget will be managed. 

  • An itinerary, including evidence of confirmed professional development activity
  • Submit a clearly stated and detailed budget for your activity

Criteria - Purchase of Equipment

Criterion 1: Fashion Experience (40%)

Evidence of fashion experience 

Provide a 300-word statement that outlines:   

  • Career to date  
  • Current industry experience 
  • Industry recognition, awards and achievements  

Optional:  Provide a Letter of Support  

Criterion 2: Impact on Business Development (30%)

The benefit to your career development, the significance of the opportunity and how this activity strengthens support for you as an emerging designer. 

  • Demonstrate that the product/equipment is unique and tailored to deliver specific benefits to your practice and/or business.  

  • Provide a detailed evaluation method/plan to demonstrate outcomes and impacts for your practice and/or business.

Criterion 3: Viability of the Activity (30%)

Your capacity to undertake this activity and how the budget will be managed. 

  • Submit evidence that the costs of the equipment is in line with market value.
  • Submit a clearly stated and detailed budget for your activity

Start the application

Applications are completed and submitted online via SmartyGrants. You will receive an automated email from SmartyGrants when your application is received. You should keep a copy of your application and any supporting documents.  

You have the option to create a SmartyFile profile for your organisation. SmartyFile allows organisations to collaborate with team members, pre-fill information into forms, manage, view, search and sort submissions across multiple funders in one spot. To learn more, go to About SmartyFile. 

One application per applicant will be assessed. If more than one application is submitted an applicant will be asked to nominate which application is progressed for assessment and all other applications will be withdrawn from consideration. 

If we find an error or information that is missing, we may ask for clarification or additional information from you that will not change the nature of your application.  

If you find an error in your application after submitting it, you should contact us immediately at creativeindustries@create.nsw.gov.au We do not have to accept any additional information or requests from you to correct your application after the closing time. You cannot change your application after the closing date and time.  

The Department may make discretionary decisions in relation the following circumstances only:  

  • Accepting a late application due to technical difficulties with submitting the application through SmartyGrants. You must contact Create NSW at creativeindustries@create.nsw.gov.au within 1 hour of applications closing with supporting evidence. 

Applicants must not lobby the NSW Government on an issue related or seen to be related to the Program that may or may be perceived to give an unfair advantage to the applicant. Applicants are required to comply with all applicable laws including the NSW Lobbyists Code of Conduct.  

In the unlikely scenario that there are changes the Grant Guidelines or the application process, the Department will notify you via email and provide you with information about whether and how to amend your application accordingly.

Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.


Apply now

After the application is submitted

Successful applications will be decided by: Director Program Development and Delivery

This grant program is an open and competitive grant program. All applications are to be submitted and assessed through the process below. 

Create NSW aims to allocate 60% of the program budget to First Nations designers and applicants from Western Sydney and Regional NSW.  

Applications are assessed on a rolling basis, in tranches. That is, application received within the following periods will be assessed together.

Tranche 1:

From 10:00am 8 December 2025 to 2:00pm Friday 30 January 2026

Tranche 2:

2:00pm Friday 30 January 2026 to 2:00pm Friday 27 February 2026

Tranche 3:

2:00pm Friday 27 February 2026 to 2:00pm Friday 27 March 2026

Tranche 4:

2:00pm Friday 27 March 2026 to 2:00pm Friday 24 April 2026

Tranche 5:

2:00pm Friday 24 April 2026 to 2:00pm Friday 29 May 2026.

Eligibility Assessment 

All submitted applications are initially reviewed against the eligibility criteria set out above in the program guidelines. Eligibility assessments will be conducted by Create NSW staff. 

If further information is required to determine the applicant’s or application’s eligibility, a request will be made to the applicant in writing before the eligibility assessment is completed. Where an application’s eligibility on one or more criteria remains uncertain, a final eligibility determination will be made by the Director, Program Development and Delivery and presented to the Executive Director, Create NSW for approval. 

If an application is deemed ineligible, applicants will be notified by email within 7 days. 

Eligible applicants will proceed to the next stage of the assessment process. 

Application Assessment  

Assessments will be conducted by an assessment panel comprising representatives with relevant experience and skill, including a senior representative from Create NSW, and an external experts/advisor from the fashion sector.   

The assessment panel will assess all eligible applications against the published assessment criteria.  

The assessment panel’s scores will be amalgamated and presented at an assessment meeting to determine their final recommendations. They will consider the assessment criteria, distribution, range, and scale of the initial recommendations. This may include prioritising applications and activities with outcomes that better meet the Program objectives or address and ensure equity and the best outcomes for NSW Government investment. 

Due diligence and other checks  

At any time during the assessment process, Create NSW may undertake due diligence or other checks on an application. This may include, but is not limited to:  

  • financial checks such as ASIC searches to confirm the financial status or financial viability of the applicant  
  • criminal checks  
  • internal conflict checks 
  • commissioning or completing research, analysis and modelling to support assessments
  • contacting identified project participant organisations  

Recommendation and decision making  

The Director, Program Development and Delivery Create NSW, makes the final decision to determine successful grant recipients. Where applicable, advice from a probity advisor may be considered in making the final decision.  

The Department has the discretion to reject, refuse or cease assessment of an application at any time. 

Notification of application outcome

All applicants will be notified via SmartyGrants email of the outcome of their applications 3-4 weeks after the end of each Tranche period.

If you are successful, we will advise you of any specific conditions attached to the grant. This could include a request to keep the grant confidential for a specified period due to an announcement being made by the NSW Government in relation to the grant.  

The Department’s decision is final. 

Publication of grants information

The Grants Administration Guide (Guide) requires that certain information is published in relation to grants awarded no later than 45 calendar days after the grant agreement takes effect (see section 6.5 of the Guide and Appendix A to the Guide). This information is also open access information under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act), which must be made publicly available unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure of the information.

In accordance with these requirements, relevant information about the grants awarded will be made available on the NSW Government Grants and Funding Finder as soon as possible after the grant funding is approved or declined.

All records in relation to this decision will be managed in accordance with the requirements of the State Records Act 1998.

Anticipated assessment outcome date is 3–4 weeks after the end of each tranche period.

Anticipated date for funding deed execution with successful applicants is within one month of successful notification

Support and contact

Application Support Resources

Create NSW has provided documents to help you with your funding application. You can locate these resources by clicking here 

Create NSW Staff Support

Create NSW staff are here to help you and can be contacted between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) via:  

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