Outfit by Robby Tija from his
collection Underground Cyborg.
Photo by Gavin Bradstreet
Outfit by Dion Lee. Photo: Carl Fuller
Fashion designers draw their ideas from many sources and a new display of graduating students work at the Powerhouse Museum reflects some surprising connections between fashion and cell division, Dada, Star Wars and the Geisha.
Every year an exciting new generation of fashion design students graduate from Sydney’s public and independent fashion design schools. After three to four years of intensive study they enter the Australian fashion industry bringing their unique design signatures to one of Australia’s most creative and globally respected industries. Since 1993 the Powerhouse Museum has been providing a glimpse of their creativity through a small display of final year work in the Student Fashion exhibition.
This year we are showing work by Dion Lee from The Fashion Design Studio, Sydney Institute TAFE NSW. Dion recently presented his first collection show at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week which was immediately snapped up by boutique buyers. With a focus on innovative cut and pattern making his designs challenge the viewer to work out how he made them while remaining very wearable. The two outfits on display reflect Lee’s exploration of the concept of mitosis or cell division and the way cells divide and are in a constant state of change. Taking reference from unfinished architecture, scaffolding and mechanics, each garment forms like a cell around the body.
Robby Tjia from the University of Technology moved to Australia from Indonesia at age 18 and studied graphic design before switching to fashion design. He already has an impressive CV. In 2006 as part of the UTS exchange program he landed an internship with Alexander McQueen in London and last year came second in the Lancôme Colour Design Awards world final in Paris.
His final year collection Underground Cyborg is inspired by Star Wars, robots and the relationship between humans and machines. Tjia integrated layers of industrial materials, such as metal, vinyl, leathers and curtain eyelets with traditional fashion textiles wool and cotton to create an amazing sculptural coat and dress.
Whitehouse Institute of Design student Alison Davis final year collection was inspired by the work of Russian-born artist and designer Erté. Drawing on the extravagance and exoticism of his fashion illustrations Alison worked her ‘Parisienne Geisha’ outfit in rich layers of colour and pattern combining brocades, hand beaded trims and floral prints. In an exciting diversion Alison is currently taking part in the reality TV series Project Runway Australia on Arena TV. With the other carefully selected contestants she will be competing in a series of fashion design challenges.
Allison Berger graduated from Raffles College of Design and Commerce and will be soon furthering her studies with a master’s degree at the London College of Fashion. Her major work was inspired by the early 20th century Dada movement and the collages and assemblages of avant-garde German artist Kurt Schwitters.
Drawing on Schwitters complex layering of image, colour and typography Allison has created shapes of silk organza, georgette and linen which she hand appliquéd in place.
In a nod to Dada artist’s use of unconventional materials Allison trimmed the skirt of her dress with layers of ‘Rug Magic’ the mesh use to stop rugs slipping.