ParisSeekingPrada: The Year I Chose to Lose.

I completed a Bachelor of Fashion Design last year. People who have studied other design disciplines or completed very similar courses understand what undertaking that final year really means. It takes a toll not just physically, but also emotionally. 2011 was probably the most draining, stressful, sleep deprived and challenging year of my life. It was also the year, however, that taught me patience, time management and most of all, taught me exactly what I was able to achieve if I really tried. It has taken me a year to be able to talk about it without feeling sick. I picked up my garments this week from college and as I stood there looking at the results of my hard work, I smiled and I knew progress had been made.

I am finally able to think of it as a 'learning process', whereas a year ago I would have said it was probably the worst life choice I had ever made. It is so hard to explain, but it is like making a horcrux (for those Harry Potter fans out there). Taking a piece of your soul and placing it into 9 garments and 5 bodies that will become your Magnum Opus. It is not just 9 garments. It is 9 garments defining exactly what you are about as a designer, what you want the world to see, and you only have this one chance.

I had never received amazing marks in my design subjects. I was more interested in theory and design history subjects. So when we were presented with this winter brief I was more than just nervous. The first week we were to present 5 looks for 10 garments. That is 50 drawings, which take time and a lot of thought. Churning out that many ideas in one 7 day period is incredibly taxing. I had been thinking about this collection for two and a half years at this point and yet, when it came the moment when I was to put these thoughts to paper and express them to my teacher, I couldn't.

I began searching for more inspiration. Stylesight became my bible. Who were my style, designer icons? Who weren't? Should I utilise alternate design disciplines like architecture?

I fell in love with Frank Gehry, the amazing Guggenheim Bilbao architect. This led to me looking at designers who also drew influences from architecture such as Gareth Pugh, Felder Felder and, of course, Alexander McQueen.

After 6 months I had done some pretty incredible things. I had put back together a rusted stud machine after visiting a stud maker in Marrickville, I learnt how to sew leather, how to cut out silk without it slipping, I had fused together silk and neoprene with quilting glue. I dreamt designs, I dreamt solutions, and would wake up writing them down furiously. I sat up night after night with my wonderful friends sewing, typing, drawing, painting and in the end I made something I was really proud of.

Here it is below: