The Australasian Young Designer Wool Awards highlighted about 70 designs from tertiary and secondary fashion students, with the parade itself attracting a sell-out crowd of 520 people.

"We could have put another 100 people in there if we had the space," convenor Sophie Claffey said of the demand for tickets.

While the number of entries was down, Ms Claffey said the quality was up.

"We thought they were all good, all exciting and all really well finished," she said.

Entries were judged on their technical and design elements, as well as innovation and their "storyboards", which track the outfits from the design stages to completion.

"They do storyboards as part of the usual assessment process at college," Ms Claffey said.

The winner of the major prize - the Handbury Scholarship - was 19-year-old Melanie Steiszkal of Kangan Batman TAFE, Melbourne.

Ms Claffey said Ms Steiszkal's entry was a stand-out.

"It was such an interesting outfit, there were so many uses of wool throughout, and the designs were well put together.

"We're looking for a continuum from the orignal design to the finished product, too, and she really nailed that."

While Melbourne entries dominated the winners' dias, Hamilton secondary student Ashlea Witham did her school Baimbridge College and the region proud by taking out the knitwear section.

THE WINNERS:

Overall winner - Handbury Scholarship

Melanie Steiszkal, Kangan Batman TAFE, Melbourne

Menswear

Katheri ne Hender, Gordon Institute, Geelong

Daywear

Laura Keogh, Kangan Batman TAFE, Melbourne

Knitwear

Ashlea Witham, Baimbridge College, Hamilton

Fantasy/Theatrical< p>Meg Jacobs, Kangan Batman TAFE, Melbourne

Evening wear

Oliver Wilkinson, RMIT, Melbourne

Streetwear

Melan ie Steiszkal, Kangan Batman TAFE, Melbourne

Best secondary school student

James Penrose, Ballarat Grammar