Melbourne to host Milanese know-how
MELBOURNE: A program organised by the International Specialised Skills Institute (ISSI) promises to give fashion designers new insights into world class skills and processes.
The Milano in Melbourne Fellowship Program would see Milan designers visiting Melbourne over the coming months to share their design industry knowledge and insights, confirmed ISSI CEO Carolynne Bourne.
Of particular relevance to the fashion industry would be workshops given by Giovanni Conti - titled "[Re]configurations Textiles: Surface Patterns", staged today (July 25 and 26), and Chiara Colombi - titled "R&D in Fashion", on August 15 to 16 or 22 to 23.
With a PhD from the Politecnico di Milano in Industrial Design and Visual Communication, Conti had worked at Donna Karan NY for the International Women DKNY line in Italy and was currently visiting researcher at Sristhi School of Art, Design and Technology in Bangalore, India. He was involved in several research programs on the relationship between Fashion and Design, with particular regard to surface patterns applied to textiles for diverse applications.
Colombi - most recently involved in applied research focusing on trend analysis and new design directions development - had worked with numerous high recall brands in the field of design direction.
Bourne said bringing overseas expertise to Australia was vital to enhance the local skills base and encourage interdisciplinary skill sharing across all sectors including fashion.
"If Australia is to maintain its many competitive advantages as well as generate new ones in the 21st century, we will have to be smarter, faster, more open to innovation and highly responsive to new trends and ideas. Although we have achieved a lot in recent decades we are not reacting quickly enough to the new challenges the next few decades and beyond will throw at us. Nor are we understanding sufficiently and embracing solutions capable of delivering the changes required."
Markets such as Scandinavia, Italy, France, and Spain had "embedded design in their culture with a flow-on into every aspect of human endeavour," she said.
"These workshops provide a unique opportunity to experience working in the style of a European model - in a team that is focused on nurturing creative excellence, using materials innovatively and ensuring financial viability."
By Belinda Smart