It is very much like the reality TV show “Project Runway” but at the end of the show, these designers continue sewing for another three years. For most soon-to-be graduates of Fashion Design Studio-TAFE, the end of the year marks an exciting time as they showcase their debut collections. It’s not so much the glitz and the glamour you would expect, but more like a caffeine fuelled rush: where night becomes day then becomes night again, as students frantically finish their garments.
For one designer, it has been a long journey and a complete career overhaul. Seema Pun, previously a nurse at St George Hospital Sydney, with specialist clinical training in Anaesthesia, made a major life altering decision to turn her hand to fashion design.
‘I think I’ve always been attracted to fashion, but after completing my clinical specialty training it was time to be more honest with myself, and accept that I had a passion to be a creator rather than an observer.’ says the Nepalese born designer.
During her first year, some of her designs were presented on Kerri-Anne Kennerly’s ‘Mornings with Kerri-Anne’. In the same year, she was the finalist in the “Dylon Dyes Competition” and was highly commended for her fairytale themed garments. Every year of her course, all of her garments have been selected for the college’s end of year fashion show.
Consistency is something that is rare in designers. Pun’s final year collection seeks to be the exception.
‘I was inspired by the forms of UK sculptor Andy Goldsworthy to experiment with the limits of design. I wanted to create a graduate collection that would challenge traditional forms and the concept of what is ‘beautiful’ in fashion,’ Says Pun.
In the same spirit as avant-garde designers before her, such as Rei Kawakuba and Yohji Yamamoto, Pun intends to manipulate the traditional silhouette, creating clothes with unconventional aesthetics. Clothes that will subvert the Australian fashion scene.
‘This collection opposes mass production and the commercial attitudes common in today’s design and manufacturing industries. Every piece in the collection is unique and individual,’ says Pun.
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