Wool fashion designs created by two final-year Curtin University Bachelor of Arts in Fashion students will be on display at the 2017 IGA Perth Royal Show.
Ancille Kashaba and Melissa Pei-Sun Goh were the recipients of two Australian Wool Education Trust scholarships, which provide grants to final-year fashion students to help them purchase wool fabrics for their collections.
The Australian Wool Education Trust supports wool education initiatives in Australia, particularly in wool and wool textile science and technology.
Ms Kashaba’s works, entitled Modern Day Dandy, were inspired by her idea to deconstruct the codes of a men’s suit.
“I wanted to offer my wearer the opportunity to try something unique and creative, making them stand out from the traditional three-piece suit,” Ms Kashaba said.
“The collection is for the modern Australian youth, taking inspiration from dandyism, traditional tailoring and the Australian lifestyle. The textiles are inspired by Australian wildflowers and are primarily produced from wool.
“I like working with wool because of the incredible properties of the material, including the different weight options and the different textures.”
Ms Goh’s collection of works are from her PEI-SUN Autumn/Winter 2017/18 capsule collection, which she explained is loosely based on the 1920’s Australian Razor Gangs and the concealment of their identities.
“Wool is a flexible, natural fibre with trans-seasonal qualities. It’s a durable fabric to suit most wearers, not only for Australian customers, but also globally,” Ms Goh said.
Curtin University Fashion Coordinator Dr Anne Farren said the support of the Australian Wool Education Trust allowed the students the opportunity to work with, and promote, an iconic Australian product.
“Wool is an amazing natural fibre with properties that meet the demands of modern living. It has the potential to keep the wearer both cool in summer and warm in winter,” Dr Farren said.
“The range of wool knit and woven cloth now being produced enhances the opportunity for our young designers to explore creative garment solutions.”
The works will be on show in the wool section of the Jim Horwood Pavilion near Gate 8, at the 2017 IGA Perth Royal Show, which takes place at Claremont Showgrounds on 23 – 30 September.
