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- London beckons as TAFE fashion student wins International Award
London beckons as TAFE fashion student wins International Award
Thursday, 28 July 2011
Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE (MSIT) fashion student Grace Cross has received the learning opportunity of a lifetime after winning the 19th Annual International Sponsorship Award, which will see her continue her studies at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London.
Ms Cross, from New Farm in Brisbane, was presented with the prestigious award during Unwrapped, the 2011 MSIT fashion parade held on Wednesday, 27 July. The event showcased student graduate collections in front of 500 guests including industry representatives, family and peers.
The Unwrapped gala event provided an opportunity for the institute to celebrate the unveiling of a $6.9 million refurbishment for the Mt Gravatt campus fashion training facilities including modern, industry standard equipment and teaching rooms.
MSIT Education Manager for Fashion Liz Reynolds offered her sincere congratulations to Grace on winning the award as well as graduating from MSIT with an Advanced Diploma of Applied Fashion Design and Technology.
"Receiving the 2011 International Sponsorship Award is an amazing opportunity for Grace. She will travel overseas to live and study in one of the world's leading fashion centres. She will use the skills she has learned at MSIT while furthering her passion for the fashion industry on an international scale," Ms Reynolds said.
"Grace has an instinctive passion for the fashion industry and it is great to see she is very excited to make the most out of this once in a lifetime opportunity.
"She is an accomplished student and has won many awards in her time here at MSIT including the Queens Plaza Avant Garde Design Competition and the Billabong Swimwear Competition, where her coral inspired print design was licensed for production by Billabong in the 2012/11 summer range.
"The Unwrapped fashion parade demonstrated yet again the breadth of industry-relevant skills our fashion students have learnt. It is what sets MSIT students apart and it is why we have been recognised as one of Australia's top fashion institutes for more than 27 years."
The judging panel for the International Sponsorship Award included past MSIT student and renowned Queensland designer Daniel Lightfoot, fashion editor for The Courier Mail Laura Stead and the 2008 International Sponsorship Award recipient, MSIT fashion graduate Kimberly Lim who is now working for Colorado.
Grace said she was overwhelmed to win the award and plans to further her studies at Central Saint Martins in London to focus on print and textile design.
"I was absolutely ecstatic to be announced as the winner of the 2011 International Sponsorship Award," Ms Cross said.
"My favourite designers Christopher Kane and Stella McCartney studied at the prestigious Central Saint Martins institute and to have the opportunity to train there myself is truly amazing. I love that fashion is a form of expression and I love how wearing something beautiful can make you feel wonderful inside."
Grace's graduating collection titled 'Edge of Eden' was inspired by the initial idea of flora and bacteria, where she took the notion of bacteria as being ugly and turning it into something beautiful.
"I had taken photos during a holiday and unknowingly they had been affected by salt water. When I produced the photos, there was a beautiful visual effect produced by the mould and salt crystals."
"I translated this effect into my print and recreated my mistake. I produced photos of flowers and palm trees and soaked them in salt water. With a little technical manipulation, I was able to manipulate my images in Photoshop to create patterns, which I then printed on Silk habotai fabric."
The International Sponsorship Award was based on several criteria including the presentation of a written application and a live panel interview. Judges assessed applicants’ arguments on why they should be chosen and their potential to be a positive ambassador for Australia and MSIT.
JustFashion.com.au Business Establishment Award
The JustFashion.com.au Business Establishment Award was presented at the Unwrapped parade to Diploma of Applied Fashion Design and Technology graduate Soo Jin Baek to help her establish and market her own fashion business.
The Upper Mt Gravatt student will receive support with marketing, public relations and graphic design; business registration funding for the first year of operation; a professionally designed website; plus a 12 month business listing on JustFashion.com.au.
Christian Gesche, Managing Director of Multimedia Australia, owner and operator of JustFashion.com.au, said the award will give Soo Jin a head start in a highly competitive global industry.
"Soo Jin showcased impressive designs and a strong business concept that addressed a market need," Mr Gesche said.
"My recommendations to emerging designers are to identify a market need, know your target market and have an excellent understanding of the fashion industry. It’s essential to develop a business plan, build a network of contacts and be able to anticipate and adapt quickly to market changes."
Movie World Costume Design Internship
The third student award presented during the Unwrapped parade was the Movie World Costume Design Internship sponsored by Warner Brothers Movie World.
Two Diploma of Applied Fashion Design and Technology students Heidi Leggereit, from Wellington Point, and Magdalene Bufalino, from Yatala, were each presented with a Movie World Internship by Show and Entertainment Manager for Movie World, Christophe Broadway.
The competition was open to MSIT Diploma fashion students who designed and produced garments for the Marilyn Monroe Heatwave show. The Movie World Costume Production and Entertainment teams selected the winners based on the creativity, durability and ease of dressing for the garments they produced.
Heidi and Magdalene will both receive a $500 cash prize and the opportunity to work with the Movie World Costume Design department.
Past MSIT fashion graduates who have forged successful careers in the industry include designers Julie Tengdahl, Daniel Lightfoot, George Wu and Leigh Buchanan. MSIT fashion graduates are employed by companies such as Colorado, Triumph, Billabong, Easton Pearson, Marc Jacobs, Sportscraft, Pacific Brands and Timothy Everest in London.