Designs heat up runway at winter fashion evening
High school art teacher wins prize
A HIGH school art teacher has become the toast of Toowoomba’s fashion scene, after creating the winning design at the Stepping Out Winter Glamour Runway.
Centenary Heights State High School teacher Jodi Robinson took home the Emerging Designer Award at the event at Rumours International.
Her retro-inspired dress, modelled by Jade Moffatt, wowed the judges on Saturday night.
Ms Robinson admitted she had no experience in fashion, saying she decided to take part to try something new.
“I don’t have any background in the fashion industry – I’m an art teacher,” she said.
“I encourage my students to try different avenues so you know what you might have skills in.
“I thought, I’ve never done this before so I’d have a go and I enjoyed it.”
Ms Robinson said her piece was inspired by nostalgia, particularly old blankets.
“I can’t knit, I can’t crochet so I thought back to winter and retro winter blankets that everyone could remember nostalgically,” she said.
“So I tried to use those in both of my designs and that retro sort of aspect to it.
“My second design was the one that one, and I always tell my students that it’s usually your second idea that’s the best, so that proved it tonight.”
Caitlin Duff took out the Youth Emerging Designer Award for her creation modelled by Hayley Smyth.
Funds raised from the event went to St Andrew’s Private Hospital to help buy important gear for the facility’s oncology unit.
“The money raised will go towards equipment to help out patients diagnosed with cancer that seek treatment from our oncology unit,” CEO Rai Fairweather said at the event.
“We have over 10,000 patient treatments go through our oncology unit every year.
“Patients come from the Darling Downs, western Queensland and northern NSW - it’s a big area and cancer is on the rise in terms of diagnoses.”
I THOUGHT BACK TO WINTER AND RETRO WINTER BLANKETS THAT EVERYONE COULD REMEMBER NOSTALGICALLY.
JODI ROBINSON