Meet Alicia our Pattern Maker

Tell us your story. How did you get to where you are today?

I have had a long and fortunate career as a pattern-maker. After finishing my Fashion Design Diploma at East Sydney Tech my first full-time job was as an Assistant Pattern-maker for Wayne Cooper. I worked in this role for three years expanding my knowledge of pattern-making every day. Making and cutting my patterns and liaising with machinists, cutters and makers. After I had been in this role for three years I was offered the position of Senior Pattern-maker and Design Room Manager. I spent another three years in that role before starting as a Freelance Pattern-maker. I have been freelance ever since and I have had the privilege of working for some of the best designers in the industry. In the last two years, I have had the opportunity to upgrade my skills into the digital realm and I am now a competent Style Cad pattern-maker as well as still practising my manual skills.

How is your relationship with the planet?

I am deeply aware of our impact on the planet and how our actions now will influence the quality of life for all beings on earth in the coming generations. I remember walking past a mural installation many years ago and being quite deeply impacted by one statement “there is no such thing as away” in reference to humanity’s habit of throwing things “away”. This statement has changed the way I think about consumable goods and the effect that we humans have on the natural world. I believe that individuals can make a powerful difference through their consumer choices and we have a responsibility to do so. I believe that change is coming and a circular economy is the only way we can address the fact that the human race is consuming resources beyond the planet’s capacity to provide them. Nature is a big part of my daily life. I love my indoor plants, many of which I have nurtured from cuttings. They provide me with a sense of calm and connectedness. I also have a worm farm for our food waste which in turn provides nutrient-rich fertiliser for my plants and I love that this creates a closed-loop system. I am also trying to foster a love of nature and an understanding of our connectedness to it in my daughter.

Meet Marzia our Grader/
Digitiser

Tell us your story. How did you get to where you are today?

My interest in the fashion industry began as a child. I remember seeing my first fashion parade when I was about 8 at `Farmers’ Department Store Sydney and admiring all the elegant models on the catwalk. During school holidays I started sewing on mums old treadle 'Singer 'machine to avert boredom. She got me to sew straight lines from exercise books which then moved onto sewing squares, circles and coils, refining my hand/eye co-ordination. I also did lots of numbered dot to dot drawings in my old colouring in books-along with dressing up Barbie in all the latest doll fashions. I didn't know it then but from an early age, I was perfecting my future world of lines, numbers, shapes, construction and clothes. At High School, I studied Fashion Textiles, then graduated from East Sydney Fashion School (Tafe) with fashion/teaching credentials and moved on to work in the Rag-trade so I could further acquire industry-based skills. It’s where I have enjoyed many challenging years working as a pattern-maker and grader for various companies meeting many interesting people along the way. 

How is your relationship with the planet?

I relate to the planet through my passion for gardening and I do it as often as I can. Working in my garden means exercise, meditation and relaxation and allows me to enjoy time out in the open after long hours at a computer. It's where I observe life happening from watching little bugs do their thing, seeing how plants grow and evolve or feeding the local native birds that visit my garden daily. There is a natural balance of life in the garden, and it can teach us that "simple" living can be good for us all.

What inspires you every day to get out of bed? 

Setting my daily goals is the inspiration for getting up every day. Whether it be at home or work, I like to see what and how much I can get done in a day and accomplishing these tasks gives me a great sense of satisfaction especially when some projects are challenging to complete.

Meet Carlos our Garment Cutter

Tell us your story. How did you get to where you are today?

I never thought I’d get into the fashion industry as after school, I decided to become an Automotive Technician, which I did – it wasn’t until after my apprenticeship where my father needed an extra hand in the factory but couldn’t find anyone at the time, that’s when I stepped in and asked if he needed my help - six years later I am running the business.

How is your relationship with the planet?

I enjoy being outside and spending my time on any outdoor activity, such as camping, going to the sand dunes at nelsons bay surrounded by nature and no technology around, I can say I’m the happiest when outdoors and when I’m with animals too, nothing can compare. 

What inspires you every day to get out of bed? 

My Family, my aspiration and goals in life.