A design from South Metro Tafe fashion student Gabby Olivier from this year’s Proto show.
Camera IconA design from South Metro Tafe fashion student Gabby Olivier from this year’s Proto show. Credit: Supplied/John Koh

Proto: 13 South Metro Tafe fashion students showcase best designs

Jessica WarrinerWestern Suburbs Weekly

THIRTEEN fashion students have presented the culmination of three years of work at the South Metropolitan Tafe Proto show.

The graduate fashion show at Beaumonde on the Point attracted more than 400 guests, including members of WA’s fashion industry.

Heritage skills of tailoring, drape, beading, leatherwork and more were merged with hyper-modern innovations like laser cutting, conscious design and performance and tech fabrics.

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Student of the year Rina Chen said she was motivated to study fashion after working in marketing and design.

“In my former career I documented the editorial of fashion trends and became captivated by the fashion industry,” she said.

Chen’s eight-look Wabi-Sabi debut collection drew inspiration from the Japanese philosophy of beauty.

“Tireless experimentation with silhouette, drape and body proportions occupied my design development process,” she said.

South Metro Tafe portfolio manager Andrea Quintal said the show wouldn’t be possible without the backing of industry.

“These students have learn from international fashion industry icons, with the likes of Zimmermann, Dion Lee, Alice McCall and Ellery among many others providing work placement opportunities,” she said.

Along with student of the year, Chen took out range of the year, with most outstanding design won by Henrietta Grochowska, the Gerber CAD training award won by Nikki Ambler, and the concept to market award won by Gabby Olivier.

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