"I took inspiration from my Indian culture in the creation of a vibrant design. I took particular inspiration from mandalas as reflected in my skirt which when viewed aerially, resembles a large circular mandala. I took inspiration from the Indian lehenga which also consists of a cropped bodice, long skirt and dupatta. I used a variety of decorative techniques to embellish my garments. I created sequin flowers using flat sequins and beads, I used laser cutting and engraving to create the lotus flowers which feature on each of the 3 garments and I used applique in creating the gold scoops which I hand cut and positioned as well as the teardrop applies which were applied by hand. During the process I had to undertake a lot of pattern adjustments and this was a valuable skill that I gained as I learnt how patterns worked and how to adjust them to suit my designs. The most satisfying parts of my MTP would be when I was taking the photos for my portfolio as it gave me the opportunity to step back and appreciate all the work I put in for an end-result that I was proud of. One of the challenges in the creation of my MTP was the gold scoops that feature along the skirt. It was quite challenging to ensure that the edge of each individual scoop lined up with the one adjacent to it as well as being a consistent length from hem as the skirt was a circle skirt rather than made from a rectangular pattern. To overcome this challenge, I had to make each scoop pattern individually to fit the position it was going in, which was a very time-consuming process. Another challenging issue was lining up the 9 sets of hooks and eyes that were the closure method of the bodice. This had to be sewn by hand, so it was time-consuming to ensure the pairs were aligned with each other and provided a secure closure. Another challenge was sourcing the right fabric that would make up majority of my MTP. I went to many shops to find fabric but in the end found a hand-woven blue shot silk. Finding my fabric was an extremely exciting part of the MTP as I started to see my vision come to life. Overall, I enjoyed the process of creating my MTP and learnt a lot."
