
Sister states in fashion exchange program
Aspiring young textile designers earn Japanese trip to further develop skills
Three representatives from Western Australia's fashion schools have earned an opportunity to develop their skills in Japan, thanks to WA's Sister State relationship with Hyogo Prefecture.
Premier and State Development Minister Colin Barnett said the Western Australia-Hyogo Banshu Fashion Textile Program provided an opportunity for aspiring designers to learn about fabric design and use it in one of the world's most prestigious textile centres.
Mr Barnett congratulated this year's winners:
- Yan Zion (emerging designer category) - Curtin University of Technology
- Catherine Somerford (graduating designer category) - Central Institute of Technology
- Megan Anita Sears (graduating designer category) - Edith Cowan University
The Premier said the winners would visit Japan for six days in March 2013, to learn about textile manufacturing and submit their own design for a fabric.
"This is a cultural exchange that will build links between WA's growing fashion industry and Hyogo's renowned Banshu textile manufacturers," he said.
"The students' itinerary will include visits to a Banshu textile factory and showroom; the Nishiwaki Fashion Festival; Kobe Collection fashion event; and other fashion-related sites and events."
"At the Nishiwaki event, Yan, Catherine and Megan will present a small collection of their work to showcase young Western Australian fashion design talent and, upon their return to WA, they will then have an opportunity to display garments created from their original fabric designs."
The winners were selected by representatives of WA's fashion industry (Aurelio Costarella, Galleria Couture and Jennifer Gaye Agencies) and the Banshu textile industry (Ozawa Textile and Naigai Orimono).
Mr Costarella, will also participate in the visit as a guest of Ozawa Textile.
Fact File
- Banshu Fashion Textile Program established (2011) as part of WA-Hyogo 30th year
- Banshu textiles renowned for traditional method used to produce elaborate woven patterns with dyed yarns; distributed worldwide to high-end designer houses
- Funding by WA Govt, Ozawa Textile and Naigai Orimono secured for further two years
- Program supported by Dept of State Development; WA Government Office in Kobe, Japan; Hyogo Prefectural Government Cultural Centre in WA; and participating institutions (Central Institute of Technology; Curtin University of Technology; Edith Cowan University; and Polytechnic West)
Premier's office - 6552 5000