Charlotte stitches up her fashion career
When Charlotte Nye first walked into TAFE Queensland’s Fashion Centre of Excellence, she had never sewn before.
Two years later, she has three qualifications, a coveted industry mentorship and a new role with Sylvia P’s Crystal Team.
It is a powerful transformation for the emerging designer, who used her time at TAFE Queensland’s Mt Gravatt campus to build her skills, find her creative voice and turn a new interest into a career pathway.
Charlotte completed a Certificate II in Apparel, Fashion and Textiles (MST20722), progressed to the Certificate III in Apparel, Fashion and Textiles (MST31022), and graduated with a Diploma of Apparel, Fashion and Textiles (Design and Product Development) (MST50122-DESPRD).
Each step helped her move from the fundamentals of sewing, garment construction and patternmaking to more advanced design, product development and digital fashion skills.
“For three days a week, I not only learnt how to sew - something I hadn’t previously known how to do - but I was given the space to be creative alongside people I now admire,” Charlotte said.
For Charlotte, that community became one of the most valuable parts of the experience.
Her classmates became friends, her teachers became mentors, and the campus became a place where she could test ideas, make mistakes and grow with confidence.
Looking back, Charlotte said she was already missing the people and the place that shaped her during her time at TAFE Queensland.
“I do have to admit that a large part of me already mourns my time spent at the Mount Gravatt campus,” she said.
“My classmates have become my friends. We laughed, made mistakes, supported one another and shed many a tear, and now I’ve graduated, I feel blessed to have that community around me.”
That support extended to the practical pressures of studying fashion - from assignments and paperwork to patternmaking, Adobe software and the final push to complete garments.
One moment still stands out: 9pm on the night before her final garments were due, when Charlotte discovered her shorts were “horrifically warped”.
After the panic and a few tears, her teacher, Carol Costa, stepped in to help - a reminder, Charlotte said, that without her teachers, no one would be wearing gowns on graduation day.
While TAFE Queensland gave Charlotte the technical foundation, her Sylvia P mentorship helped bridge the gap between study and industry.
Selected as the 2026 recipient of the Sylvia P mentorship program, delivered in close partnership with TAFE Queensland faculty staff, Charlotte spent six months gaining hands-on experience across the fashion business.
She worked across areas such as print development and garment construction while receiving one-on-one mentoring from Sylvia P’s Senior Designer.
The experience gave her direct exposure to professional fashion design and product development - and opened the door to her next opportunity.
Charlotte has now officially joined Sylvia P’s Crystal Team, marking a major milestone in a journey that began with a single stitch.
For Sylvia P, Charlotte’s progression reflects the mentorship program's purpose: creating real pathways for emerging fashion talent.
The team described her opportunity as a testament to her talent, dedication and hard work, and celebrated the growth, creativity and confidence she showed throughout the program.
For Charlotte, the next chapter is only just beginning. She leaves TAFE Queensland with formal qualifications, practical skills, industry experience and the confidence to keep building her craft.
“I am undoubtedly very excited for my future, and I will be forever grateful for the past two years that have shaped me to be the person I am as I leave TAFE Queensland,” Charlotte said.
From learning to sew at TAFE Queensland to stepping into the fashion industry with Sylvia P, Charlotte’s story shows what can happen when creativity, training and opportunity come together.