Infectious

DIO SENIOR FASHION SHOW

Moving towards the end of a very turbulent year with COVID-19 still making its presence felt, it seemed only fitting that the Dio Senior Fashion Show reflect and respond to this. So, on Thursday 24 September Infectious! hit the catwalk in the School Hall to a small but enthusiastic audience of teachers and students while our wider audience of parents, friends and families watched from home via a livestream.

With ongoing issues around the world such as climate change, unethical labour practices, and the over-production and consumption of clothing creating mountains of waste, it seemed only appropriate for the key focus for material design this year to be on the impact of ‘fast fashion’ and how students could contribute to changing the mindsets of others about how fashion can be worn and perceived. To design a better future for themselves and future generations, students explored tapping into a niche market within the developing ‘slow fashion’ movement.

We are very fortunate at Dio to receive ongoing donations of deadstock fabrics from Trelise Cooper and more recently, The Fabric Store. We also received a massive donation of buttons and sewing supplies from one of our local Dio family businesses, Sullivan’s.

These donations have made it possible for most of our students to challenge the way they make decisions within the design process when it comes to buying and using new or recycled resources. The students this year have made a tremendous effort to make their garments either versatile or biodegradable by using natural fibres such as organic cottons and silks. Others have been innovative in the way they have recycled or upcycled old clothing, deadstock fabrics – even chippie packets!

Infectious! was a great success and the students looked amazing on the runway. The quality of the garments was outstanding and the design very innovative with eco dying, embroidery, patchworking, appliqué and other unique construction techniques used.

Special thanks to our sponsors