A 22-year-old Perth fashion student has shown sun protection doesn’t have to come at the expense of style, taking out Cancer Council WA’s 2026 SunSmart Design Challenge.
Curtin University fashion student, Taylah Dow, won the challenge with From Shore to Soirée, a contemporary pair of wide-leg pants inspired by long summer days in her hometown of Busselton.
Taylah said she wanted to challenge the idea that sun-protective clothing had to be purely functional.
“I wanted to create something that still provided substantial coverage, but that someone would genuinely feel excited to wear because it reflected their personal style,” Ms Dow said.
“The granite-grey pants provide greater coverage while featuring adjustable drawstring hems, allowing them to be worn full length or drawn up to create a shorter silhouette.
The design was inspired by the idea of clothing that could take the wearer from the beach to lunch or dinner without needing to change.
Growing up around South West beaches, Taylah was always conscious of the strength of the WA sun but said the SunSmart Design Challenge changed the way she thought about incorporating sun protection into fashion.
“It showed me that functionality doesn’t have to restrict creativity – it can actually create new opportunities within a design,” she said.
“I’m still studying and finding my way as a designer, so to have people within the industry see something in my work and believe it is worth producing has given me a huge amount of confidence.”
Cancer Council WA SunSmart Manager, Sally Blane, congratulated Taylah and said the Design Challenge is a powerful way to combine creativity with cancer prevention.
“Because melanoma is one of the most common cancers in young West Australians between the ages of 15 and 39, one of SunSmart’s aims is to create greater awareness amongst young people about the damage that prolonged exposure to UV can cause, and the Design Challenge is a great way to do this,” Ms Blane said.
“Thoughtful, creative designs such as Taylah’s prove that being SunSmart can also be stylish and fun.”
Awarded with a limited run, Taylah Dow’s winning garment was manufactured by Sofia Clothing Balcatta, and will be available for purchase at Ruck Rover General Store at 242 William St, Northbridge, from 22 October, 2026.
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