What a busy few weeks for the Ready to Fly Programme and now both the trainees and mentors are in full flow! It has been incredible to watch and be part of everyone’s creative and personal journeys. Seeing how individuals are progressing, reflecting on the first few weeks and realising that we are now half way through the project.
All trainees are working on creating a series of products; to achieve this they are trialling initial samples, learning about a whole range of areas including different material types and restrictions, sizing and costing. Students are predominately working with Australian made materials where possible.
Tenzin with her Bendigo Woollen Booties
Each week feels incredibly special and rewarding, it’s as if we are creating a ‘creative community’ together; supporting one another, encouraging each other to share ideas, resources and knowledge freely. Everyday brings exciting new developments and we’re able to see this through one-to-one mentoring and group discussions.
Alongside our sessions at Heritage Hill, we also coordinate off-site workshops with independent designers and instructors.
This week some of the students got the opportunity to learn the basics of pattern grading with the talented Costume Designer and Maker Alison Yiu.
Sharifeh and Chaw hard at work…
Alison and Abuk
We try to create workshops to suit individuals’ needs; this particular one is perfect for the fashion designers and makers within the group.
We were lucky enough to be able to hold this particular short course at one of our trainees workshops in Springvale. Abuk Bol runs a fashion retail space which combines the designing, making and sales all under one roof.
The sewing school is called Twich Women’s Sewing Collective and teaches the Certificate Level 3 in Clothing and Production as part of RMIT University.
It was a fantastic day and enjoyed by all.
Thanks goes to Alison for leading such a great workshop and to Abuk for allowing us to use her shop space.
More project updates coming soon…