"I think it’s great that there’re so many people who want to pursue this road. But I just don’t think that everyone realize what comes with it. It’s A LOT of hard work. You really have to have a deep love for it to be able to survive the industry."
Wise words from 28 year old designer Anna Peng. And she’s putting in the hard work. In only her third year of study, she’s managed to work with renowned designer George Wu, and is in the process of designing her graduation collection. She is also juggling a finalist position to be flown to Sydney to show her Avant Garde lingerie set for Triumph International, and then to put the cherry on top, last week she’s been chosen to be one of the finalists in the Queens Plaza Avant Garde Competition.
‘I have to admit, I don’t really have much of a life at the moment. I suppose the glamour is soon to come’, she laughs.
Anna’s every bit artist as she is designer. After studying Art and Education and travelling the globe teaching, she’s returned home to her true passion.
“I went through my primary school books a while ago and realized that I had figures scribbled over the pages. I first thought that it was a body image thing, but then I realized that they were fashion figures with garments, representing my first fascination with creating fashion and beauty.
“However, I went and studied art and education ‘coz when you’re in school and creative –you graduate school and study art. That’s the thing to do. I studied education on the side because then I could get a job at teaching art- and that’s a stable job.
“After a bit of travelling and teaching for 2 years in the UK I realized that all I wanted to do was to create. I LOVE teaching, and teaching people things, but I really enjoy creating things, and I think that’s where the fashion came into it.
"When I was in the art college, for an assignment we had to make something to out of metals. Everyone else was soldering rings and necklaces and but since I love fashion, I ended up crocheting a dress from recycled electrical copper wire, and I walked down the runway of my classroom during the art critique! That’s my first taste of creating fashion, and having to model for it too!
“I’ve always loved fashion, but I chose art and teaching- I guess I didn’t’ want to be one of those naïve girls who are in it just for the glitz and glamour and like, “I want to grow up and be a fashion designer!!”
And with the kids who do want to become a fashion designer?
“I think it’s great that there are so many people who want to pursue this road. But I just don’t think that everyone realize what comes with it. It’s A LOT of hard work. You really have to have a deep love for it to be able to survive the industry…. Having said that, I LOVE fashion and every bit that comes with it.
Passion’s obviously something Anna carries a lot of, as she’s won the 2009 Aspiration Award for Metropolitan Institute of TAFE, and just recently she’s been selected to go through to two finals for two major competitions.
She was chosen as one of the three to be flown to Sydney in a few months to show her avant-garde lingerie collection designed for Triumph. And if she wins, she will be representing Australia, off to London for Triumph International Competition.
"I really love soft and feminine outfits that flatter the female figure, but yet I love contrasting the softness with something that is bold and structured.
"For the Triumph Competition, my inspiration comes from the shell of the tortoise. Women are like the tortoise, who carry their hard outer shell on their backs to protect them from the chaotic world. This strong structure we all carry on ourselves- our outer shell”.
She’s also one of 15 to go through to the finalists of the Queens Plaza Avant-Garde Competition.
You can vote for her at the Queens Plaza Website HERE to see her go through to the finals.
We’re also lucky enough to have Anna on Board for the Religion of fashion Tea Party.
To see a preview of what’s yet to come from Anna, keep an eye out for tickets to the Tea Party on sale from the 10th April, 2010.
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