meet Shirley

I had a quick chat with Shirley, who works in production and design at a luxury Australian fashion label.

Meeting Shirley was amazing because I was able to see the work she does and really observe the start of the cycle in the fashion industry. At the crux of the industry are the garments themselves. Magazines, photoshoots, and companies are all constructs based around the simple concept of producing clothes to wear every day. It is amazing to think how the industry has evolved and become so important in many people’s lives today. Fashion is not defined by the necessity of clothing, but rather by the fact that we choose to express ourselves and present ourselves with an identity with our clothes. The designers and producers are the beginning of the entire process, inspired by people, culture and the world to create, to hem and to unpick, specially for us.

I: How did your childhood influence your interest in fashion?

S: I think a lot, because I grew up with my mum and my auntie who can sew, and my cousin who studies fashion. I like to wear nice clothes, so she always made dresses for me and when she didn’t have time to finish I would do it myself. When I went to parties, I could always wear dresses that were different from everyone else.

I: What did you study in high school and during your tertiary education?

S: During high school I just studied normal subjects, in Indonesia we didn’t have electives, so I just studied, and when I finished, I took accounting. Totally opposite.

I: What is your favourite thing about your job? What has been the most awe-inspiring moment?

S: With my job, with fashion, it’s not like accounting where all the time you’re doing the same thing. In fashion, I find it exciting because every range you have different style and you’re making different things so it’s always new and never boring. That’s what I like the most.

I: What is your cultural background and how do you think that has influenced you?

S: I’m Chinese, but I came from Indonesia. In Indonesia, there’s so many different parts of the country so you have different traditional dresses. I looked at those; I thought you make it like a sarong, but you make them by hand and every part of Indonesia has different styles. Sometimes I look at them and design from them.

I: What is your advice for people pursuing a job in fashion?

S: in fashion, you have to like what you do. You have to love and like it. Sometimes it is a bit competitive in the field but you have to persevere to become jack of all trades. Then you can learn different things and experience different things. Don’t get upset. If you pursue your dream, then it will come true.

Love,

Ingrid