Young designers breaking out
COLLECTIONS 2018 will showcase Otago Polytechnic’s fashion students alongside visiting international student designers. Fashion writer and former graduate Brittany Pooley talks to senior lecturer Simon Swale for a sneak peek of what’s to come.
SEEING the realisation of a student’s potential and the pride they have in their work as it is showcased is always an ‘‘emotional moment’’ for Simon Swale.
As a senior fashion lecturer at Otago Polytechnic’s Design School, he spends his days fostering the ideas of inspiring designers in the bachelor of design (fashion) programme.
Over the past semester, Swale has worked closely with the school’s student designers, developing their collections for the catwalk.
Next Friday, at COLLECTIONS 2018, graduating students will feature alongside visiting designers from Shanghai University of Engineering/IFA Paris before the public at the Polytechnic’s hub.
‘‘I’m looking forward to standing backstage, being with students as they watch their collections on the catwalk,’’ Swale says.
The annual event includes a popup design store and the opportunity to explore the polytechnic’s ‘‘DEBRIEF’’ exhibition.
The graduate portfolios from the school’s fashion, interior, product and communication design programmes will provide spectators with a visceral experience.
COLLECTIONS 2018 provides the polytechnic’s industryready fashion students a platform to launch their careers.
‘‘Each student has such a unique design identity . . . the variety is going to make for an amazing show.’’
Ahead of the event, three graduating design students, Melissa CoullHerewini, Pera May and Abigail Barnes, discuss their collections.