Wow! We did it! The 2010 Advanced Diploma graduate Fashion parade was a great success! All the hard work was worth it! Everyone's collections were paraded by finesse models in Anzac hall, PAC on saturday night the 6th of November. Scroll through to have a look at my graduate collection on the runway! Enjoy! :)

I have written a little overview and background on myself and what my collection is all about! Enjoy! I have included pictures and elaborated on everything in earlier posts! Check it out! :)

I have always had a huge passion for everything fashion and after studying Visual Arts at Uni SA for two and a half years, i developed an interest in the subject of textiles. After learning many techniques i realised that i would love to get into fashion design!

I have designed a collection of six evening wear outfits inspired by late style and fashion icon Isabella Blow. Convinced she was ugly, she always wore a hat, head piece or mask that would cover her face. Her outrageous and larger than life personality masked an inner pain, and ended her own life after several attempts.

Each outfit will be accompanied with a mask or headpiece covering the face. I am using sheer fabrics to symbolise that as much as she tried to hide her deep depression, she was still transparent. My collection will portray the tragic aspects of this style icon’s life and how she hid them behind an emotional mask.

My favourite outfit in the range would have to be outfit number 5. I love the combination of the deep grape and black colours together, and the raw, sexy feel of the outfit. It's feminine but with a mysterious feel... I am inspired by obscure and beautiful things. I crave to create unique garments that have a contradictory yet confident and feminine aesthetic, with particular attention to quality fabrics and construction. Relaxed but dressy, feminine but with an edge.

Necia is the label I have developed through my studies. After producing a number of one off garments, i hope to move into designing more of a ready to wear, smart casual style with a unique twist. Necia creations are not the type of thing you find in a mainstream shop; the label's focus is to create quirky one off garments for young women who strive to find fashion with a difference, and to be noticed.

Just scroll down to find out what i have been up to in the production of my graduate collection....

This week is actually our one week of holidays! But i wouldn't call it that at all! If anything its more intense and crazy than the last few weeks! the due date is drawing closer, and im frantically trying to get everything done! It is a huge relief to get the photo shoot out of the way though! So at the moment i have fully finished two outfits! YAY! and am half way through the third outfit! Im not doing too badly, but i think it has been the beading and hand stitching that has set me back i bit, but im still confidant ill get it all done! So im off, to keep soldiering on! wish me luck! Until next time!

Monday 27th of September was the day! I was fortunate enough to get two models for my photoshoot (Lucy Harrison and Kiera Wood), so i was able to have two outfits photographed! The Hair (by Erin Lydiard) and make up (by Kristina Persichini) was fantastic! Luci Horsfall was my photographer for the day, and she did an amazing job! We originally planned to do it at Electric Light hotel but when that venue fell through on the morning of the shoot, we ended up across the road at the Belgian Beer Cafe, which worked out really well! A huge thankyou to everyone involved! I cant wait to see the photos!

I have become quite attached to Li. The fabulous man who makes me several cups of the best coffee in the world everyday! Cheers to Li!

I think i am slowly going blind from beading every night! I just keep telling myself that it will all be worth it in the end! Lets just say my addiction to coffee is getting a little out of hand! I have now finished my first outfit, which is exciting! What a great sense of relief knowing there is one down! 5 to go!
Now onto my next outfit! i have decided to start on outfit #5. So cut out and put together the beginnings of my little purple bodice. So its back to beading myself to sleep everynight! Why do i do this to myself!? While im beading at night time, i am working on my shorts/skirt at tafe. I have attached some photos of my progress!

The weeks are passing by to quickly and the deadline is drawing closer and closer! Now that i have finished all my patterns and toiles (except for the last skirt that Im leaving until last), I am now making my good garments and one by one finishing off garments. First, i wanted to get all of my undies done and out of the way, so cut all 5 pairs out, overlocked, elastic inserted, cover-stitched, and im all done! I then decided to move onto my first outfit. Once i had cut out and put together my bodice pattern, i was able to do my beading at night and work on my blouse at tafe. I have attached some pictures of my first outfit so far...

So recently as i was draping my toile of outfit number 4, i just kept wanting to change the design. I decided to go with the flow and drape what was in my head and am extremely pleased with the new design. Of coarse i have now done additional trade sketches and illustrations of the new design, because i seem to be getting really good at making things a lot harder for myself!So now i have pretty much finished all my patterns and toiles (excluding the skirt for my final dress, which i am leaving until last).

I have included some pictures of my new design, as well as some patterns and my mood boards.

This week was the beginning of our marketing class. Needless to say, there is a lot to get done! Surprisingly, the class has motivated me to put together an amazing collection as well as a professional and thourough portfolio.

For outfit #3, i am able to use the bodice master to create my bodice pattern and now can work on my sheer skirt with boning. This is my toile, but i will be making some minor changes for the real thing. First i will be using thinner boning for the vertical casings, and will insert 2 rows of boning on the hem and waist bands to make a more circular finish. I will also be keeping the Centre Back on a fold and inserting a placket opening, with a hook and eye waist band closure.

I started off pattern making outfit #5. After the first toiles i only needed to make some slight alterations to the bustier/corset, and the shorts. Luckily i had no problems with the straight or circle skirt. I then began to pattern make and toile outfit #1. Luckily all my designs have very similar bodice designs so i am able to use the same master and make changes for each outfit. all of my designs also have either stretch panties or short shorts. so now that i have made the base pattern for both, i can use the same master and pattern for different outfits. I did however spend a fair amount of time on my blouse for outfit #1, trying to get the collar to look like i wanted. I have attached some pictures.

So starting at the new TAFE campus has been fantastic! I thought that catching the train into the city everyday would be a bit annoying, but so far i am actually liking it! Saving a lot of money on petrol and i use the train ride as time to make a plan for the day!
I decided to approach my collection by first pattern making and toiling each of my garments and then once i have completed all patterns and toiles i will start on the final garments.

I have attached a picture of my new work space!

So holidays are almost up and our Hong Kong trip was amazing! I got some fabrics for my range, as well as some great trims that I'm thinking of using. We visited a garment factory and a quality factory in China, and learned a huge amount about the manufacturing process of the fashion industry. I have come back refreshed and inspired to start creating this range! :)

So i started my pattern-making on the last day of the semester. So far so good! Now all i have to do is stick to my timeline in the holidays and get as much done as possible! Will keep you updated!

Here are the three masks i have made so far...

Here is my label logo that i have designed

I am now experimenting with ribbon for the details on the short black dress and separate collars. I have also made a paper mache' mask, bent some paper covered wire and then glued it onto the mask. While i was gluing, small strands would form when i pulled the gun away and i thought this would create an interesting spiderweb effect!