Stepping Out: Raffles College of Design and Commerce

Assia Benmedjdoub talks to a current and former fashion student from Sydney's Raffles College of Design and Commerce about those two dreaded words: experience required.

The words 'blood', 'sweat' and 'tears' are often dropped when students discuss their final year projects. And the scene is set to get even bloodier for Rachel Hunt and the graduating fashion design class of 2008.

"I've heard the theme will be armour," says Hunt, who is in the final semester of a Bachelor of Design. "Our school tries to operate like the industry in the real world, so we'll all be given a brief for the major project. Armour will mean lots of leather, reflective materials and high-end fabrics."

Speaking during the last week of her "school" holiday, Hunt seemed surprisingly keen to get back to her studies and make a start on her major assignment. As part of the project, she will be required to design and develop two eveningwear concepts and two daywear looks.

"I'm really excited because we'll be studying under a new teacher who used to work on embroidery for [Paris luxury house] Chanel," Hunt says. "The students who worked under that teacher did some amazing things last semester."
As with most fashion design students, the 25-year-old finds patternmaking to be the "bane" of her degree.

"There's just so much mathematics and geometry involved. Last semester, I did all theory subjects and I actually really loved it. Studying the history of art and subcultures has given me a lot of background information and inspired me for my final project."

On a practical front, Hunt says she's learned a lot about the processes of fashion marketing and manufacturing through internships at Studio magazine and womenswear company Dolina. She's also dabbled in runway shows with 'dresser' roles at trade fair Fashion Exposed and with glam brand Billion Dollar Babes.

"Working at Dolina opened up a while different side of fashion design for me," she says. "Even though it was targeted at the older womenswear market, I got to see how garments were made and the whole process behind it."

Hunt says she'd eventually like to start her own label, even if it means "20 to 30 years" down the track. In the mean time, she's grappling with a less fashionable but all too common challenge for young students: finances.

"Being an arts and design student, you have to source most things yourself as well as having to work to finance your course," Hunt explains. "But I guess in a way, that prepares you for what it's like to start up your own business." 

Experience required.
Two words that make even the coolest of fashion graduates break into a hot sweat. It's certainly something Bethany Joy Monsted had to grapple with as she bade farewell to the Raffles College of Design and Commerce in 2006.

"Originally, I hoped to start off in the industry as an assistant designer or perhaps a production assistant," she says. "My lack of work experience was a barrier into the work force so I thought I'd create my own experience and start my own label. I haven't looked back since."

Some of her recent accolades include a semi-finalist position in the National Young Designer Awards, sponsored by department store giant Myer and staged at Canterbury Park on May 5. The designer is also locked in to show her latest ready-to-wear collection at Melbourne consumer event Fashion @ Fed Square in September. It's a busy time for the 23-year-old designer - especially when you consider that her cocktail and eveningwear dresses are painstakingly produced in Australia.

"Attracting stockists can be hard work, especially for a new label," Monsted admits. "Of course, the ability to design what I am passionate about, being my own boss and meeting and working with all the interesting people I have make up for any temporary struggles."

Nonetheless, Monstead is planning to sell her garments through an online store to build momentum both here and abroad. The womenswear designer launched her first collection over spring/summer 2007/08, drawing her inspiration from art, nature and vintage fashion illustrations.

Although the collection has steadily developed since then, the emphasis on delicate fabrications such as lace and silk has yet to shift. And according to Monsted, who admits she's had a love affair with romantic textures since the age of 12, it never will.

"When I was about 12, I stumbled onto a worn costume book of my mother's which sparked my interest in fashion design. I wondered why people didn't wear gorgeous clothing like that in modern times. I was 12-years-old and wanted to be running around in embroidered corsets."

By Assia Benmedjdoub