Fashion forward

“In every single assessment I have used them; I haven’t done anything without them, and I haven’t gotten below a credit grade.”

Sarah Hawes is a first-year fashion student and, like many of her classmates, an avid fan of the fashion videos produced by Acting Course Director of Fashion and Textiles Donna Sgro.

The design lecturer created the videos specifically for the Foundations in Patternmaking and Construction 1 subject. It’s a foundation subject for all Bachelor of Design (Fashion and Textiles) students.

They provide step-by-step instructions and visuals demonstrating how to complete essential techniques like patternmaking and seam finishes. They also allow for more time to work on understanding and expanding these techniques in-class.

Sgro says the videos are a “supplement to the in-studio demonstrations. There is limited time in the studio each week for first years, so sometimes the pace of the class can be difficult to keep up with.”

Hawes, who aspires to be a buyer in the fashion industry, and who had previously studied at the Whitehouse Institute of Design, agrees. “Without the videos, at the end of the class all you have is crappy, hand-drawn notes that you did yourself, which you need to re-write and understand for your assessments.”

The videos, which students can watch and re-watch on Vimeo, help to minimise some of that anxiety. And because “they’re linked to a group Facebook page, we receive notifications when new videos are uploaded,” adds Hawes.

For Sgro, this means “it’s really easy to see when and how the students are accessing and carrying out parts of their assessment.”

Kenneth Pan. Photo by: Shane Lo

And that’s important because the videos form the basis for an assessment where students produce a reference folder depicting the step-by-step instructions for all the garment construction methods they use.

“The only improvement that could be made to the videos,” laughs first-year fashion student Kenneth Pan, “would be having the instructions written step by step. However then Donna would be doing our assessment for us!”

Though Pan, who studied design and technology at high school, feels he already has some experience, the young designer admits he still had a lot to learn. “At school it was more like DIY, whereas now we need to be at industrial standard.” 

When asked whether he used the videos and enjoyed them, Pan enthusiastically responds. “I absolutely use the videos, they are just so helpful and we can get them on our phones which is easily accessible.”

Wei Zhang. Photo by: Shane Lo

For fellow classmate and international student Wei Zhang, the videos, which are filmed on the same machines students use in class, have provided a lifeline. “I had read magazines and watched TV shows which gave me an interest in the fashion industry, but it is all totally new for me.”

Sgro agrees. “I have seen an improvement in student confidence and in their ability to understand the technical steps,” and she believes students’ accuracy and quality have improved across the board. What this then means is that students can spend more time interrogating these methods from a design and innovation perspective, given there is always a go-to video to remind them of the key technical steps.”

“These videos have made my work so much better,” admits Zhang. “There are a lot of other videos on YouTube but these videos are shorter, more specific and more helpful.

“They’re important for fashion design students, but other students who may be interested in DIY projects could probably use them too. That’s how good they are.”