STORY
[By Emily Highfield]
CAREER TIMELINE…
I have been working in the Fashion Ragtrade Industry as a professional since 2006. In the last 6months of my 3-year Advanced Diploma course in Textiles & Fashion at RMIT, I was offered my first design role at a small Melbourne boutique label, where I was able to finish my course at the workplace. From 2008 to 2010, I had the privilege of working with high-end designer, YEOJIN BAE where I worked in the showroom and assisted in her design studio. In my spare time, I ventured into the business world and began a re-worked vintage & pre-loved clothing label, VINTAGE SOUL, to support my keen appreciation of wildlife and environmental causes. In 2010, I set my sights on a full time design role and was offered a position designing for Melbourne-based boutique label, WHITE SUEDE. From there I moved towards a larger company and was offered a design role with one of Australia’s major fashion brands, WITCHERY where I am continuing to work towards my goal of becoming a world class designer.
BACKGROUND & EDUCATION…
Prior to beginning my fashion education, I had dabbled in photography, art, pottery, life drawing, communication design, garment construction and pattern making. Since then I have extended myself further by trying my hand at business, fashion styling, event management and graphic design. I love to learn and love trying new things.
I have always been a drawer from a very young age and love anything to do with creative arts. My Gran taught me everything she knows about arts + crafts and sewing and I think I can attribute my drawing ability to my Gramps, who is a painter. I spent most of my childhood in the sewing room at their place and looking back, it makes sense that I eventually found my way into the Fashion industry, even though I had dreams of becoming a ballerina into my early 20′s. All the years at ballet definately didn’t go to waste however, as I used to sew and design my own ballet gear and loved setting trends even back then when it was just leotards and leg warmers; I became an expert at hand sewing with all the attaching of ribbons and elastic to my pointe shoes; I learnt all about performance, costumes and make-up and some of the best skills I learnt from ballet I think were dedication, work-ethic and passion.
All this knowledge in fact gave me a great grounding for a career in Fashion, and it possibly provides a reason as to why two of my great fashion loves are editorial fashion shoots and Haute Couture, both of which inspire endless creativity; think Annie Leibovitz, Grace Coddington, Karl Largerfeld, Tim Walker, Elie Saab, and Alexander McQueen… I love the imagination and boundary pushing concepts of these amazing creative people!
Thank you for visiting! x
