The Factory

Posted by on Nov 17, 2011 in 2011, Graduate shows
  • Midland Railway Workshop - the factory curtin's fashion textile show for 2011 graudates
  • Markup artist applying make up on a model at a fashion show
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  • Curtin-2011-Tayler-Ainley-3840
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It almost feels like I need to get a virtual brush out and dust around my blog. It’s been more than a month since I last posted anything. My hands and brain are like rusty wheels trying to get the hang of writing again in this space with the kind of language I used to use. Nice kick on the bum to start posting again is always a good thing. And it typically comes in the form of a fashion parade.

Curtin University’s 2011 Fashion and Textile Graduate parade – The Factory – took place last night in one of the giant rail workshops in Midland. It was one of the most awesome venues I’ve ever been to for a runway show. There were quite a few fashion editorials done around there and I could see why it attracted creative people.

There were 24 students showcasing their work. I didn’t expect anything but a theatrical show. Aly May, the Choreographer, doesn’t do a straight walk up and down the runway kind of shows. Actually, if you think about it, it would be almost too boring or an impossible proposition when you have to squeeze in 24 sets in 60 minutes or so, each set containing six garments. Lighting, as usual, was a huge challenge. I am not sure what it would have been like in the audience as some sets didn’t have much light at all.

Having said all that, there’s always a degree of delight looking at experimental and brave work put together rather coherently.

My handbag for the night, Brenda, and I liked Shinead Gecas’ dye/print work which had exceptionally flowing quality. Angela Parker’s subtle colours were tempting as well. I was really looking forward to Lauren Hung and Jeromy Lim’s work but I couldn’t catch them properly at the show. Perhaps, this gives me a good reason to catch up with them separately.

This is the first of other graduate shows lined up for the year. This is the way I wind down – running around catching graduate runway shows before the year’s end. Since I missed the bulk of designs during Perth Fashion Festival Student Runway show I have no excuse this year not to attend them as long as the organisers let me in.

All photos from the Factory are in a flickr collection if you are interested in having a browse.

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2 Comments

  1. Style Discovery » Challenger Institute’s Graduate Parade – Vanity Case
    November 23, 2011

    [...] a little later than scheduled but it was normal. It was quite different from the rather conceptual Curtin graduates’ show, the Factory. There were lots of beautiful garments. The most stunning of all was from Veronica Parish. I must [...]

  2. Style Discovery » Caberet. Punk. Vanity and all that
    November 26, 2011

    [...] What’s been really interesting this year for attending graduate shows is having someone actually sitting in the front row capturing different angles. Just a bit like having an assistant e.g. Stefan Gosatti has Richard Jefferson during PFF each year. My friend Brenda has been doing just that since the Curtin show. [...]