Eco-friendly fashion

Katelyn Stephenson's designs will be featured in the Underground Runway event at Chadstone. Photo by Damjan Janevski.

By Alesha Capone

Hoppers Crossing fashion student Katelyn Stephenson will have her designs showcased on the catwalk in Chadstone next week.

Stephenson, 21, is studying for a bachelor of fashion design at Holmesglen Institute.

Her work and that of her fellow students will be featured in the Underground Runway event at Holmesglen’s Chadstone campus next Thursday.

Stephenson said she did not think she would go into a creative industry after graduating from secondary college.

But after starting a bachelor of science, she realised it was not the career path for her, and so swapped to fashion.

“I really love being creative – I’ve always been a creative person,” Stephenson said.

Ms Stephenson with sketches of her designs. Photo by Damjan Janevski.

“I love designing clothes and cute things, and combining my love of science and animals into my work.”

She said the designs to be featured in Underground Runway had also been shown in a student showcase at this year’s Melbourne Fashion Week.

Stephenson said she was inspired to create the “eco-fashion” clothing collection by using synthetic materials and plastic bags after learning about sustainability within the fashion industry.

She said she melted the plastic bags and fused them to fabric to make the intricate
patterns.

“I really love the fabric I created – it was a lot of work but worth it,” she said.

“It’s very exciting to see your work go down the runway.”

Underground Runway will be held from 6.30pm on Thursday, October 18.

Details: holmesglen.edu.au/Students/Student-Showcase