Fashion grad competes for international glory

Held in Melbourne in August 2023, the WorldSkills Australia National Championships is Australia's most prestigious trade and skills showcase. It is held every two years and is the culmination of the WorldSkills regional competitions.

Sari is confident about competing for national honours, thanks to the fashion skills she developed during the Diploma of Applied Fashion Design and Merchandising (MST50119) she studied through TAFE Queensland.

"While the state competition was a full-on and intense day, I enjoyed the opportunity to test my new skills, and the prospect of being involved in the WorldSkills organisation further sounded exciting for my future," Sari said.

The national competition requires Sari to showcase her skills in a time-pressure environment against other winners from each state and territory.

"We'll get blocks of time to complete the sketching, pattern-making and construction of our design. Until the day elements are kept a mystery, such as the fabric and if the design will need to feature an empire line or a natural waistline, gathers or pleats, and then be symmetrical or asymmetrical," she explained.

Helping Sari to sharpen her design and technical fashion skills for the competition is her trainer Carol Costa, who was also her teacher during her diploma studies and is now coaching her for WorldSkills.

"Carol is amazing, she has so much knowledge that she enthusiastically passes on to her students, and she genuinely cares about helping the next generation of designers fulfil their potential," explained Sari.

"She taught me advanced production techniques to work in the fashion industry. Before studying here, I could barely sew - but now, I am confident in designing and constructing garments thanks to the encouraging environment of TAFE classrooms."

Carol has been volunteering to help Sari prepare for WorldSkills by training at the Fashion Centre of Excellence three days per week for the past six months, further refining her skills.

"The extra tuition I've gained from Carol has been valuable and extraordinary for my development. I'm getting faster and learning skills that I can transfer into my job. So, it's been a rewarding experience."

When not training, Sari works as a seamstress in a couture bridal business, creating exquisite wedding gowns, a very different career path than her high school teachers encouraged her to pursue.

"I was an academic in high school, and there was an expectation for me to attain a high Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) score, go to university and become something like a doctor or a lawyer. But six months into my TAFE at School fashion course, I decided to leave school early and study the fashion diploma full time."

Helping Sari perfect her craft was the Fashion Centre of Excellence's industry-standard facilities and equipment that allowed her to create incredible garments.

"The training facilities are impressive – you can't get them anywhere else. Studying here prepares you for the real world, and anyone contemplating a career in fashion should consider TAFE Queensland first and foremost."

"It's such a great environment, and in every class, I was supported to expand my knowledge, challenge myself and achieve my visions at a high standard."

"I especially am passionate about creating evening-wear designs that complement the female form, so constructing bespoke creations for weddings is wonderful. I feel so fortunate to be working towards my dream career."

Sari is now looking forward to competing against the best from each state and territory at WorldSkills Australia National Championships in Melbourne, hoping to make the national team to represent Australia at the International Competition in Lyon, France, in 2024.

The national competition is a three-day event where more than 500 young people drawn from 34 regions across Australia come together to vie for the title of WorldSkills Australia National Champion in their chosen trade.

"I'm prepared to win, but if I don't, what I’ve gained from the experience and extra tuition is a prize in itself," concluded Sari.