Alumni Inspire at ICON Fashion Show

While the annual event showcases the creative brilliance of graduating certificate, Diploma, Advance Diploma and degree-level students, this year, they were joined by exceptional fashion alumni.

Thirteen past students have achieved significant success after their studies attended to motivate and inspire current fashion students and celebrate the faculty’s impressive 40-year track record of delivering fashion education and training.

On the night, the alumni showcased their graduate collections and current fashion creations, wowing hundreds in the audience and proving how a TAFE Queensland education can lead to rewarding local, national and international careers.

Organised by TAFE Queensland’s Janelle Rayner and the fashion team, the faculty gathered various alumni from different areas of the fashion industry, showcasing the available fashion careers all launched from the Mt Gravatt campus.

“From streetwear to high-end couture formal wear and everything in between, our alumni shared their experiences, skills and insights with current students while impressing the audience with a showcase of their creations,” said Ms Rayner.

“The alumni were carefully selected to provide success stories from local, national and international careers, ensuring students from all levels could find relevant and inspiring journeys.”

The initiative highlighted the success of TAFE Queensland’s fashion graduates and demonstrated the quality of fashion education offered at the Fashion Centre of Excellence for over four decades.

“By inviting alums who have excelled in their careers and made a notable impact in the fashion industry, current and future students could see the potential of their qualifications,” continued Ms Rayner.

One of the alumni, Lauren Holland, a successful Brisbane-based fashion buyer and retailer, emphasised the different areas of the industry and how you can have a rewarding career in merchandising and retail – skills she gained while at TAFE in the early 2000s.

She shared how TAFE Queensland equipped her with the necessary tools to succeed in such a competitive industry and how she was still encouraged and mentored by her teacher, Carol Costa, two decades after graduating.

Current students engaged with the alumni during their showcase, showing their creations and getting feedback, career insights, and advice on navigating the transition from study to employment.

The alumni also shared valuable advice from their career journey, discussing their challenges and how their education contributed to their accomplishments giving students valuable insights into the industry.

“Hosting these amazing people at this incredible event was so rewarding. Having members of our successful alumni inspire and support current students is a testament to the community we’ve grown out of our fashion faculty over the past 40 years,” said Ms Rayner.

With the alumni showcasing their achievements, current students could see how the faculty empowers them to reach their full potential. The event also reminded them that education is vital to their career success.

“Fostering this community among past and present students is as essential to our training as our commitment to providing practical, industry-relevant education, and we plan on doing it at our Protégé Fashion Show later in the year,” concluded Ms Rayner.

A massive thank you goes to:

• Julie Tengdhal – Class of 1988
• Joseph Cairns – Class of 1999
• Tanya Olsen – Class of 1999
• George Wu – Class of 2000
• Bronson Olsen – Class of 2003
• Lauren Holland – Class of 2004
• Nomiki Glynatsis – Class of 2008
• Maria Lye – Class of 2009
• Bianca Whyte – Class of 2011
• Alice Litzow – Class of 2013
• Elleni Canaris – Class of 2016
• Wendy Diggles – Class of 2013
• Zoe Caladoukas – Class of 2018