While studying fashion I was lucky enough to be involved in the QUT Hopevale X Project and it was one of the most memorable aspects of my degree and something I am really proud to say I was a part of.
As part of the project, I had the opportunity to work with Indigenous Elders and artists from the remote town of Hopevale in Far North Queensland. Through a fun and collaborative process, I was able to produce a garment using their artwork and it is now being displayed in the Australian Embassy in Paris.
It makes me very proud to have been able to produce a piece of clothing that shares a larger concept than just materiality and fashion but rather showcasing the Indigenous talent and artistry of the Hopevale elders, and now it will be shared and loved by a much larger overseas audience.
The push for Indigenous artists, fashion and designers should be the forefront of what Australian fashion represents as our values as a society change for the better and to also support everyone and the beautiful culture in our Meanjin community.
Indigenous art and culture should not just be for the art galleries but also appreciated through the forms of fashion and self-expression.
Studying at QUT gave me this invaluable opportunity. I was also able to display my work during the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair and a gallery showcase at Artisan. I also worked with students who were studying degrees other than fashion like media and marketing and that helped to give me a holistic view to fashion and in particular, my piece for the QUT X Hopevale Project.
Before studying at QUT I had heard some really great things about the fashion course. In particular, the way the uni delivered assessments by bringing in businesses or organisations from outside of QUT to create a more realistic outcome and help students build a great portfolio.
During my degree I made some beautiful connections with my teachers and classmates which gave me opportunities such as travelling to Japan to study and interesting work experience.
There was a real emphasis on practical learning which was a huge influence on my confidence in the fashion field.
At the start of my degree, I remember being quite anxious to do presentations to industry but through the support of my teachers I became more confident in myself and what I created. This also gave me the courage to find my passion for helping others through tutoring.
I am now working in a fabric store while really focusing on being a sessional academic at QUT tutoring in various areas of fashion. I am loving it! Guiding others in how they can develop their design style or achieve their goals has been a really great experience.
I would love to use my design skills to work for a fashion brand that is doing something to better the world. I feel my experience in the QUT X Hopevale Project really gave me the experience and direction I needed to understand how fashion can be used in a positive way.
You can find out more about the Bachelor of Design (Fashion).
