University of Technology Sydney student, Alannah Walton, drew on her Chinese heritage when conceiving her honour’s collection, The Ties That Bind. An exploration of her dual cultural upbringing, the six-part collection fuses traditional handcrafting techniques with dreamy pastel hues, reminiscent of her childhood.
Pulling it together, she says, took her on a journey of self-discovery. “I’ve learned to embrace my heritage, values and creative instincts, allowing me to create designs that truly reflect who I am and the stories I want to share with the world,” she explains.
For more fashion news, shoots, articles and features, head to our Fashion section.
Details like knots and bows feature heavily, both at a delicate and large scale. One look uses wire scaffolding to seemingly defy gravity, the result being a larger-than-life bow that could have been drawn from Alannah’s childhood scribbles.
The collection flows intuitively but the designer notes it wasn’t a smooth process. “I wish I knew the value of trial and error and how essential it’s been in refining my designs. I also wish I trusted my instincts more from the beginning instead of second-guessing my creative choices.”
Alannah’s collection is one of many student works that will be on display at the National Graduate Showcase x Emporium Melbourne as part of PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival on March 4. Held at the Royal Exhibition Building, the runway will feature 13 graduate designers hand-picked from Australia’s leading fashion institutions. It’s always an exciting glimpse into the future of Australian fashion and Fashion Journal is proud to be a long-time media partner of the event.
View this post on Instagram
Fashion Journal: Hi Alannah! Tell us a bit about how you got started in fashion. Did you always want to be a designer?
Alannah: From a young age, I’ve been captivated by fashion and loved coming up with designs. My passion began with my aunt’s alterations business where I’d scavenge through her off-cut bin to create outfits for my toys. A defining moment was discovering Christian Dior’s 1997 Fall/Winter collection by John Galliano – the bold colours, intricate designs and theatrical energy sparked my fascination with storytelling through clothing.
In high school, I immersed myself in textiles, design and visual arts, falling in love with the hands-on process of bringing ideas to life. Over time, my curiosity evolved into a passion for creating garments that are both playful and meaningful, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern narratives.
Tell me about the collection you’re showing for the National Graduate Showcase. What was your inspiration?
My recent collection, The Ties That Bind, is influenced by both personal and surrounding experiences, specifically my Chinese heritage and childhood nostalgia. While designing I focused on handcrafting techniques, feminine motifs and a youthful colour palette. It holds familial value while embracing the complexity of my dual cultural identity in a contemporary fashion world.
The aesthetic of my work is a playful and experimental exploration of fashion, honouring slow practice through traditional craftsmanship, intricate detailing and repurposed materiality.
View this post on Instagram
What has the process of creating your collection been like?
This collection consists of six looks and with each look came different challenges I had to face. For instance, the creation of my knot sculptural piece entailed a lot of consideration regarding the amount and type of wire to be used as it needed to hold its shape while still being pliable.
While making the smocked dress with deadstock handkerchiefs I faced the challenge of being about to make a complete garment as my materiality was limited. To overcome this, I decided to sublimate the handkerchief design onto the same fabrication to create more pieces while preserving a similar feel.
Overall, the process was stressful at times but it was a rewarding experience and I learnt to navigate setbacks through continuous experimentation.
View this post on Instagram
How would you describe your collection to someone who’s never seen it before?
I would describe my collection as a playful and experimental exploration of slow fashion that blends traditional handcraft techniques with modern aesthetics. Inspired by my Chinese heritage and childhood nostalgia, it features intricate details like knotting, bows and dreamy pastel hues.
Feminine silhouettes and reimagined domestic materials create sentimental, yet contemporary pieces that honour cultural narratives and sustainable practices, inviting the audience to connect emotionally with the craftsmanship and stories behind each garment.
What are you most proud of in your work so far?
I’m most proud of the way my work brings together traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design, creating pieces that feel deeply personal yet universally meaningful. I think in my latest collection I have really found my identity as a designer as well which is so important when establishing a unique voice in the fashion industry.
It’s been a journey of self-discovery, where I’ve learned to embrace my heritage, values and creative instincts, allowing me to create designs that truly reflect who I am and the stories I want to share with the world.
View this post on Instagram
What do you wish you knew when you started on your collection?
I wish I knew the value of trial and error and how essential it’s been in refining my designs. I also wish I trusted my instincts more from the beginning instead of second-guessing my creative choices. Embracing the process and staying true to my vision earlier would have saved me a lot of stress and allowed me to enjoy the journey even more.
I now realise the importance of consistently adding and referring back to one’s research as it was truly hard to design without knowing what I was trying to achieve or convey. Once I developed a solid concept, everything else including my textiles and silhouettes came easily.
Who is exciting you the most in local fashion right now?
Melbourne-based designer Wackie Ju is exciting me the most in local fashion right now, especially after their Australian Fashion Week 2024 show. I appreciated their ability to merge performance art with fashion, creating a visceral narrative and turning Chinese colonial history into wearable art. This blend of storytelling and innovative design not only captivated me but others and also has set a new standard for how fashion can provoke thought and emotion.
View this post on Instagram
What about the local fashion industry needs to change?
The local fashion industry needs to prioritise sustainability and be more transparent. I feel that brands need to adopt ethical practices from sourcing to production and share these processes to build trust with consumers. Also, more investment in emerging designers and support for creative risks can help push the industry forward, making it more dynamic and globally competitive.
Who are your dream collaborators?
My dream collaborators would be designers such as Stefan Cooke, Yuhan Wang and Sandy Liang, whose designs and approaches I really admire. These designers embody the innovative spirit and craftsmanship that I strive to infuse in my work, making them the perfect inspiration for me to grow, learn and contribute my unique perspective.
View this post on Instagram
Where do you hope to be in the next five years?
In the next five years, I hope to have gained valuable experience in the fashion industry, learning and growing within the field. I also aim to potentially start my own brand in the future, creating designs that reflect my passion for craftsmanship and storytelling through fashion.
How can we see more of your work?
You can explore more of my work on Instagram, where I share behind-the-scenes insights, process videos and my designs. For inquiries or collaborations, feel free to reach out directly through Instagram for a closer look at my collection.
Get your tickets to the NGS Showcase at PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival here.
This article Knots, bows and pastel hues: Take a peek inside Alannah Walton’s graduate collection appeared first on Fashion Journal.
2025-02-24 10:19:00
#Knots #bows #pastel #hues #peek #Alannah #Waltons #graduate #collection
Source link
