Curtin University’s largest-ever cohort of fashion graduates has offered an insight into the runways of the future by showcasing their unique and creative final-year student designs at the 2019 HAUTECULTURE event.
The students not only conceptualised and crafted the unique garments for their end-of-year graduate showcase, but they were also responsible for the entire event’s organisation, ticket sales, promotion and creation of marketing materials for the runway event at Claremont Showgrounds.
Among the vibrant and creative student designs featured at the student showcase included a lobster look-a-like handbag designed by Joshua Rees; urban nomadic lifestyle inspired clothing by Tylo Broadhurst; and a brightly coloured festive collection entitled Beautiful Menagerie by Brittany Chancellor-Maddison.
Dr Anne Farren, Coordinator of the Fashion Design Major at Curtin, said every fashion student was asked to reflect, redefine and find ways to remain relevant in the always-changing fashion industry, which is continually challenging conventional industry practices.
“Fashion is emerging to be a more sustainable, environmentally-focused industry, and we’ve asked all student designers to consider these issues when creating their capsule collections,” Dr Farren said.
“This year’s graduating cohort is 32 students – our largest group to graduate through Curtin’s fashion program, which is wonderful to see. I wish them all the best for their future careers in the fashion industry.”
One of this year’s graduates, Lauren Boucher, presented her capsule collection Mémoire de Perle, inspired by her memories of ballet and the tutu.
“Using tulle textures, my collection celebrates the tutu, and the personal memories I associate with it,” Ms Boucher said.
“I started taking ballet lessons when I was three, and one of my fondest memories is dressing up in the tutus my mum would make for me.
“Putting on a tutu changes the way you feel – bringing joy, empowerment, and for me, feelings of nostalgia. For my collection, I wanted to take the tutu and bring it into an every-day wear fashion space, to capture those moments and recreate them for its wearer.”
Another 2019 Curtin fashion graduate, Michelle Teles, used laser-cut marine plywood in her capsule collection Fragilient.
“After initially drawing each piece, the wood was then laser cut, and then I added it on to the sheer fabrics used throughout my collection, to form the design, shape and movement of each piece,” Ms Teles said.
“Fragilient has several motifs throughout the collection that explore the skeletal system, connective tissue, adipose tissue and the body on a microscopic level.
“Each piece tells a different story about our bodies, which are both fragile, yet resilient.”
Ms Teles will be presenting pieces from Fragilient at the upcoming RAW Artists exhibition in Perth in February 2020.
