Greenvale resident and fashion student Olivia Barca wants to contribute to a more sustainable fashion future, and is on track to do so with her recent competition win.
The 21-year-old Kangan Institute student was recently crowned the third place winner for the Resident/TAFE category in the Fashion Awards Australia’s Stitch Don’t Ditch competition.
Ms Barca was recognised for her upcycled jacked design, made using recycled clothing items including a pair of jeans, overalls and pinafore.
She said it was important for her design to be unique and functional.
“My design aim was to keep as much of the recycled jeans, overalls and pinafore intact, staying true to the characteristics of those garments,” Ms Barca said.
“This gave my jacket a more complete and commercial look.
“The pinafore was the focal point of my jacket design, allowing me to reuse the zipper as the opening.
“I am very excited and proud to be recognised for my hard work in creating a beautiful one-off piece.”
Ms Barca said she sees herself relying heavily on upcycled materials as she pursues a career in fashion design.
“Fast fashion needs to be a thing of the past in order to reduce our impact on our environment,” she said.
“To be honest, upcycled garments often have more character, making them distinctive and eye-catching.
“In my future work, I intend to upcycle as much as possible, giving these pieces a new life.
“Sustainable fashion is the way of the future.”
