The latest www.ragtrader.com.au blog by iconic designer Jenny Bannister sparked heated debate. Bannister’s blog dealt with the lack of business opportunities for graduates. In this special edition of e-news briefs, Ragtrader spotlights some of the fiery comments.
The frustrated graduate
For too long [there has been] a high fashion focus for a haute couture industry that is virtually non-existent in Australia. How many conceptual designers who make deconstructed jackets do we actually need? Will these arty garments actually pass a QA test?
My guess is no. This is where the government needs to reassess how they are subsidising the curriculum. What happened to a strong focus on the roots of the fashion industry; fabrics, manufacturing processes, QA and understanding all the processes within the supply chain? I was never taught at uni how to check for needle damage or cracking seams.
The frustrated patternmaker
I studied fashion overseas and I can make patterns from scratch, I can make samples and I have passed all of my ATITO tests. I moved to Australia because I thought there would be more opportunities within the fashion industry. Back home I managed to get a lot of work experience and have worked at major fashion events but here I can’t get anyone to take a chance on hiring me – even though I know I am more than capable of doing the jobs I am applying for.
The frustrated fashion agent
With very little made “onshore”, where are they supposed to get any type of job? With the factories which are still manufacturing, we cannot afford to take on grads with little or no experience. I agree that fashion courses need to be looked at closely and tailored so that they become more relevant to our current circumstances.
The frustrated fashion agent
As a former banker and then an ex-founding partner of a successful lux label that shows at NY Fashion Week I am amazed that the fashion schools do not incorporate business subjects tailored to the industry in the degrees they offer. Not only would such subjects give their students a basic business foundation but would highlight to them that fashion is a business first and foremost.