Stepping Out
As one of Australia's long standing independent design colleges, the Whitehouse Institute of Design, has helped produce some impressive fashion talent. Samantha Docherty speaks to one of its current and former fashion students.
When asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, Kirin Billington, at the age of 13 said 'a designer'.
Working towards this dream ever since, Billington studied textiles in year 10 at high school, which gave her the opportunity to participate in a figure drawing class held by a teacher from Whitehouse.
"It was because of this, that my awareness and continual passion for fashion grew, and I discovered my creative side. My mother did sewing and patchwork ? so it must be in the genes!"
Participating in the VET schools program with Whitehouse during years 11 and 12 of her studies, Billington subsequently continued further study at the design school after her HSC.
Returning from Beijing this month, where Billington was the only Australian competing in the 14th Hempel Awards China International Fashion Contest for Young Designers ? the opening show for AW 06 China Fashion Week, the budding designer is well on her way to living her dream after graduating at the end of this year with a three year diploma in Fashion Design.
"It is exciting to be nearing the end. Pattern making, construction and design have to date been my favourite subjects throughout the course. Other subjects included life drawing, business law and business studies.
"It is a personal thrill to see [my designs] paraded. The chance to show my talent overseas in international contests has meant I have been able to develop my skills further and show what I can really achieve as a young designer ? my ultimate goal."
Recently showing at the Vodafone id Dunedin Fashion Show and Emerging Designers Awards in New Zealand with three fellow students, Billington says balancing work, study and a social life is certainly difficult and hard work, but when viewing her garments and outfits on the catwalk it is a personal thrill.
"My next step is to experience what it will be like away from study.
I'm hoping to win a scholarship that Whitehouse awards every year to study in Florence for a year. The course doesn't start until September so until then I'll be getting experience working in the industry. I already have started my business (low key at this stage), registering ?Kirin? as my label. I have started design and production of clothing accessories, marketing them to fashion outlets."
Intrigued by the creative process of fashion, Camilla Freeman can't remember ever wanting to do anything else but design.
Now an established designer with a top selling label camilla and marc, Freeman has rapidly climbed the fashion ladder with her brother and business partner Marc Freeman.
Studying a two year advanced diploma in fashion and textiles at the Whitehouse Institute of Design, Freeman, surprisingly, found herself enjoying the technical aspects [of the course] almost as much as the design process.
"The course was largely focused on technical skills, patternmaking and sewing, design, color, range development and fashion drawing."
Realizing early on in her studies that the fashion world wasn?t as glamorous as everyone thinks, she knew she wouldn?t get very far if she wasn't willing to put in the hard work.
"I would highly recommend the course to other students. However it's tremendously tough, long hours and highly competitive so if you are not ready for something so challenging then it may not be the right place to study."
Graduating in 2002, Freeman was awarded a scholarship to study her masters in fashion design at the world renowned Accademia Italiana Arte Moda Design in Florence, Italy; But before leaving to complete her masters, the talented designer was approached to launch her label in Australia.
"A few months after I graduated I was working in a boutique to save some money before I began my masters in Italy the following September. In the interim I was approached to show my graduating collection at MAFW that coming May 2003, so Marc and I decided that although it wasn?t the best timing we would start our business. It was obviously a lot sooner than expected but it ended up being the most perfect decision we made."
Pursuing her love of fashion in a truly European environment, Freeman completed her masters and returned to Sydney for her third fashion week show for camilla and marc.
Setting up a proper office, Freeman brought the sales division in-house after a few seasons and began targeting international accounts through MAFW.
"So many international buyers would place orders when they were here for fashion week. We also used to take the collection overseas to show boutiques ourselves and finally we've now set up representation in the US that sells our collections every season."
A hit on the Australian and international fashion scene, the pair have shown in Paris and Dubai, camilla and marc currently sells to over 9 countries and has some 60 accounts worldwide.
An indication to any designers success, Freeman's feminine, chic designs have been worn by celebrities including Elle Macpherson, Jennifer Lopez, Miranda Otto, Abbie Cornish, Kirsten Dunst and Rose Byrne.