Ciara Nolan is one of six fashion graduates selected to take part in The Innovators show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia 2014.
This is how she describes the inspiration for her collection:
Dinosaurs! I really wanted to create a fun, colourful collection that has the ability to lift peoples mood and make them smile.
I’ve always been interested in the effect that colour and colour combinations can have on our emotions.
I designed all of my own digital prints, I then used a bonding technique to create my own unique fabric.
I’ve used various different types leather throughout the collection such as pony hair , embossed leather and suede.
I’ve also created my own accessories for the show!
I always start with researching ideas for my prints, everything else kind of flows on from that.
Once I have my prints ready, I start pattern making so I have the correct specifications for any placement prints and I can calculate the amount of fabric required.
The printing process takes a couple of weeks and once the fabric is ready it goes to the bonders for a few more days.
Once I have the fabric back it’s time to start cutting out patterns and putting the garments together.
For me, because my fabric has to go through a couple of different processes before it’s ready to be made into garments, time was definitley my major challenge.
I try to stick to a strict time schedule but because some of the processes are out of my hands and things can sometimes get held up on the other end it can be difficult to keep on schedule.