Description

This design and construction project consists of a floor-length couture gown constructed from a silk wool twill exterior and 100% silk charmeuse lining. The garment is structured through vertical panel construction, adapted from a base commercial pattern and redrafted to create continuous full-length panels. This garment is inspired by the natural colours and forms of archaic Australia as well as indigenous Australian fabric dyeing techniques. The exterior fabric features ice-dyeing achieved through handmade onion, turmeric and avocado dyes, with the lining also incorporating imprint and submersion dyeing utilising native flora and avocado dye as a base. Beading is hand-applied around the neckline using earth toned beads, creating a concentrated focal point and adding weight and structure to the neckline. Ultimately, the result is a technically ambitious couture garment where construction, embellishment, and finishing techniques have been executed with precision to produce a resolved, durable, and highly detailed piece.

Images of Work

"Back neck fastening. The fabric is lightweight silk in a pale, creamy beige or off-white hue, with a subtle sheen and a faint, watercolour-like pattern of lighter and darker beige tones, showcasing unique dyeing. The style is a halterneck, with wide straps that originate from the back of the neck and descend over the shoulders. The collar area is embellished with intricate beading, small beads primarily in shades of gold, copper and white, with some larger, faceted clear crystals interspersed. This beading creates a decorative, almost mosaic-like effect around the neck. The closure at the back consists of two fabric-covered buttons and loops."

"The focal point is the ornate collar, which is heavily embellished with intricate beadwork. The beads are predominantly in metallic tones of gold, copper, and silver, arranged in concentric patterns and wavy lines. Interspersed within the beadwork are larger, faceted beads that catch the light, adding a touch of sparkle and dimension. The beadwork creates a rich, textured band that stands out against the muted tones of the garment."

Select Student Folio Pages

The pages selected for each project reflect the individual students' interpretations of the syllabus guidelines for the MTP. Each student should develop their folio according to the guidelines, relating to their own individual project. This may result in a variety of presentation styles, numbers of sketches and/or experiments.