Decisions...Decisions

This past week has been really tense at uni waiting to find out what we were chosen for. At the start of the semester when we were told about the two options at Spring Fashion Week, I thought that we had to choose between the catwalk or the exhibition. I decided on the exhibition because I wanted to push my concept further with a collaboration. At that time I didn’t entertain the idea of doing the catwalk as well. I thought that participating in both would result in each effort being done with half the effort because of the time frame. Then we were told we could go for both and I thought why not, if I don’t get both hopefully I’ll still get one and then it will be decided.

Listening to Denise and Karen talk at the end of the week I started to seriously think about the reality of trying to complete both at the same time and it made me re-evaluate my decision. It’s a really tough decision to make because now I have designed a capsule collection I would love to see on the catwalk, if for nothing else, so that I can be apart of that atmosphere and have that experience under my belt. Since first year MSFW has been a light at the end of the uni tunnel, I must admit that not participating in it would be disappointing, especially because...wait for it... I actually like collection! Ha, who would have thought?! However this isn’t the only part of fourth year and I need to think beyond September. My portfolio is the most important part of this year, and I need to think which will separate my work from other students, not even at RMIT, but also the whole world! If I focus my effort on the exhibition then I’ll essentially have more control over it and more likely that it will become an impressive part of my portfolio.

There is still a concern that this is completely unchartered territory, I don’t know what will come of it and that’s a big bet to be taking. It’s a unique opportunity, yet also a risk being the first year. There are five containers all around Melbourne and the work isn’t in the one place so there’s a chance some containers will get more traffic than others, it’s more of an effort for people to go. People get really excited by a fashion show, and I’m not sure if a container in Carlton has as much appeal. You can’t replace the runway images of the MSFW but you can still have a fantastic photo shoot that shows the outfits just as well. It’s a really tough decision, and I need to talk with Caz and the teachers going forward with a decision. Either way I still plan to stay on target for the deadline in August, I’m excited about constructing the pieces and even though they’re not in my plans for the exhibition I have to hope that they will see the light of day somehow, someday :)