Otago Polytechnic School of Fashion graduate Tara Viggo,
who now works in London, speaks to Dunedin students. Photo
by Craig Baxter.
Designing samples for high street stores in England seems
a long way from a fashion school in Dunedin, but one former
graduate was keen to pass on her knowledge this week of how she
got there.
Tara Viggo graduated from the Otago Polytechnic school of
fashion in 2005.
The same year she was a finalist at the id Dunedin Fashion
show emerging designer awards and was awarded a special prize
to show at the Mittelmoda, one of the most sought-after
fashion awards, held in Italy.
Since then she has gone on to secure a job as designer and
pattern maker at Justina of London, where she makes samples
which are bought by the buyers of large chain stores and
reproduced in their thousands.
She returned to Dunedin recently to renew her visa and has
spent some time tutoring a first-year student at her old
school.
Yesterday, she spoke to students about some of the
difficulties she had faced in securing a job and the pressure
she worked under - if she made a mistake it was reproduced
thousands of times.
It was great to return to the polytechnic and see people
still so enthusiastic about designing, she said.
She also encouraged others to take part in the emerging
designer awards, as it could give them a "taste of how it all
works".
Applications for the awards have opened and are received from
throughout the world.
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.