New studio to liven up student work experience

FREMANTLE: Its students have dished out meals, frothed up cappuccinos and even plucked at the odd brow.

Now final-year fashion students at Challenger TAFE are going head to head with some of Western Australia's most prominent designers.

As part of the college's ongoing 'live works' initiative - which has seen the establishment of a student restaurant/bar and beauty clinic over the past three years - Challenger TAFE has introduced a new fashion studio in the heart of Fremantle's West End district. Managing director Liz Harris said the studio, which has already enlisted the support of designer labels Costarella Design, Ael'kemi, Love In Tokyo, Su Design and Morrison, would help to develop skilled sample machinists, patternmakers and designers for local industry.

"The whole concept for the fashion studio is about establishing closer links with industry and creating a business incubator that is part of the West End hub."

Harris said the incubator would be equipped with state-of-the-art sewing machines, presses and cutting machines as well as additional tools for patternmaking, drafting, designing and sewing. These would allow students to work on real-life commercial projects and better engage with industry practitioners, she said.

"Towards the end of the academic year, students will have outfits that they have designed for sale but retailing isn't the main focus of the studio, the main aspect is to ensure students become more work-ready through having live work interactions with industry."

While no commercial projects are currently underway at the studio, former "live work" initiatives have included the production of uniforms for tourist destination Rottnest Island, the Perth Concert Hall and local restaurants.

Harris said the new studio, partly funded by money generated from previous live works, would also facilitate normal classes and provide final-year students with a space to create their major assignments.

"The students get involved in the whole process of garment manufacturing from research and design through to client liaison and production."

By Assia Benmedjdoub