I feel like I am home… back into the swing of things very quickly!!! Today was the first day back of the year and the first day of second year fashion design.
Workshop was from 9am to 6pm… I can’t believe how much I have achieved!!! Creating variations of bodice darts was just the start of the day before moving on to drafting and pattern making a dress for our first technical assessment.
I am so glad to be back though… I AM ON TOP OF THE WORLD!
I was lucky enough to be contacted the other day by the Southern Cross Tasmanian Young Achiever’s Award team to be informed that not only had I been nominated for the Arts and Fashion Award and I am a semi-finalist!!! How exciting!!!
I can’t wait to see what the rest of the process holds, but even if I go no further… I am just so honoured and proud!
Thank you to everyone who has been supporting me along the way, I hope you all stay with me on my learning journey.
The likes of rapper Macklemore and designer Jeremy Scott, push the boundaries of creativity and acceptance. Both artists use wings in their own way, intricate design and metaphorically. An organism with wings is one of fragile existence…
…you wouldn’t hurt a butterfly.
My design is influenced by this concept of wings. Macklemore and Jeremy Scott have inspired me to create a body with freedom and individuality expressed through the wings seen in my design. Incorporating a mix of masculine and feminine components, i have also created a blur in the lines of gender. My ‘wings’ gives the wearer the freedom whilst also protecting their fragile nature.
Model: Kearna Philpott
Year 1, Semester 2 at the Whitehouse Institute of Design… Our brief for this semester was to design and make a full body outfit of two – three garments and channelling a Spring/Summer aesthetic.
At Whitehouse, the design process is truly treated like it would be in INDUSTRY.
After many sketches and alterations… the images pictured below show my final design. I had to propose variations to my teacher before these final illustrations (both technical and styled) could be submitted to the Head of Design for signing off. After the design was approved I then had to begin making toiles of my each of the pieces.
At the end of the semester, I had to present my body, fully styled, to a panel of judges. This involved organising a model, hair, make-up, shoes and accessories to complement my design. Thank you to Kearna Philpott for modelling and Victoria University students for the hair and make-up.
A toile is a practice calico (cheap fabric) version of the garment you are making to see if it will actually work. It is essential in the design process as it is a true representation of what the final piece of clothing will look like. At the Whitehouse we have to pattern make and sew everything ourselves, so this process is a great learning curve. Once a toile has been made we then have ‘toile checks’ with our teachers. Often changes are made during this time and another toile will have to be drafted up. This process is repeated until the final design is perfect and then you can move on to creating your clothing in the actual fabrics!
These images represent the final toile of my zippered skirt and then the final product!
If you want to see my design process and inspiration for this skirt go to the blog: http://meganrose.com.au/decrypt-skirt/
Me rocking a full calico outfit! This is a friend’s three piece
collection in the toiling process – Ebony Fraser
2014 was certainly a big year! Not only did both my siblings get married, but I moved to the mainland and went to study a Bachelor of Design at the Whitehouse Institute of Design’s Melbourne campus.
My darling mother, Belinda, caught the Spirit of Tasmania over with me to start my new adventures… and my fashion world began. This year has involved many highs and lows, and been a very big learning experience!
Studying fashion isn’t as simple as some would think… my course is very intensive with over 30 hours face to face a week, although I love it so much, I am there for many more extra! Despite the huge commitment and as hard as it was to move away from my family and life in Tasmania, relocating to Melbourne was the best thing I have ever done… I could not imagine myself anywhere else!
I have already learnt so much invaluable information and so many techniques from studying at the Whitehouse after just one year. I was incredibly honoured to receive the award for ‘First Year Fashion Student of the Year’ at the end-of-year runway showcase… I am just so excited to get back and start the second year!
I can’t wait to share what I have designed and created over the past year here on my blog, so keep posted!
