Groovy 'undercover' garment wins Fashion Eisteddfod award
12 October 2005
Groovy baby! Mai Giang (right) on the catwalk with a model wearing her winning, Austin Power's inspired, underwear design.
Kangan Batman TAFE fashion student Mai Giang won first prize in the 'Underwear for Undercover' category of the Fashion Eisteddfod competition.
Mai, 20, was selected from 150 competitors from Victorian tertiary institutes for her Austin Powers-inspired one-piece underwear.
She received a trophy, $500 worth of cash and vouchers, an Elna sewing machine and a two week internship within the fashion industry as part of her prize.
The Fashion Eisteddfod was part of Gorgeous 2005, a fashion, entertainment and lifestyle event for young women held at Vodafone Arena.
The winners in the fashion awards were announced on Sunday 2 October.
'I was shocked when they called out my name,' said Mai. 'The next thing I knew, I was up on the catwalk, walking next to a model wearing my garment!'
'It was a very nerve-wracking experience to be up there on the catwalk.'
The Altona North resident is in her final year of an Advanced Diploma of Textiles, Clothing and Footwear course at Kangan Batman TAFE's Broadmeadows campus.
Even though 'no one really notices undergarments,' Mai said she wanted to create an outfit that was 'fun, colourful and cute'.
It took Mai three weeks of her own time to design and create the garment.
Fashion teacher Heather Holden said Mai's garment was really indicative of her storyboard.
'Mai's designs were always left-of-centre,' she said. 'But most importantly, Mai knew that her designs had to be commercially viable.'
Mai and three of her friends have even developed their own streetwear label, called 'Zinnia,' which they hope to develop after they finish their studies.
'With my new domestic sewing machine, I'll be able do things like create buttonholes, which I wasn't able to do on my old industrial one,' Mai said.
For more information, phone 13 TAFE or visit www.kangan.edu.au
