WHILE the summer festival season may be over, it has not stopped new Perth designer Petrea Stregas from launching her festival-wear label Petrea Couture ahead of Splendour in the Grass and Coachella.
The 21-year-old physiotherapy student and self-taught designer, has been working with Inglewood designer Steph Audino to create the label and her first collection Mystical Beings.
Stregas said she had worked previously with Audino when she dressed Stregas as a contestant in Miss West Coast in 2016.
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“My love of fashion was definitely heightened when I entered the competition and Steph dressed me in one of her gowns – it absolutely took my breath away, “she said.
“She started mentoring me in July last year and has been closely working with me to help make this dream of mine a reality.
“She is such a great role model and inspiration for younger women and is a complete asset to the fashion industry.”
Describing her own style as “extra”, Stregas said her label paid tribute to her love of festivals and a way to break down barriers in the fashion industry.
“I’m well-known to wear glitter, flower crowns and even antlers to festivals, but when I’m doing the grocery shopping its strictly active wear; no in between,” she said.
“But it was the beauty and reassurance behind a festival’s atmosphere that truly sparked this love for design, coupled with my passion and desire to promote acceptance within festival culture.
“In the past, I’ve been badly bullied by my clothing and styling choices so I wanted to use the energy from these bad experiences and give others the courage to be who they are and dress accordingly.
“My brand is essentially trying to break down walls and barriers, in regards to what one should and should not wear, and hopefully encourage society to express themselves more.”
With her first collection available to buy, Stregas said she was in the middle of designing an autumn/winter collection inspired by New York.
She also plans to attend as many music festivals as she can including Splendour and Coachella.
“It’s (Splendour) the largest music festival in Australia, so hopefully I can gain some interstate awareness,” she said.
“My ultimate goal is to wear some of my collection at Coachella however, I’m still a full-time student studying physiotherapy so this dream of mine might have to wait another year or two.”
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