Veronica Wallace
Fashion Design BDes
Otago Polytechnic
Graduates: 2023
Specialisms: Creative Direction / Sustainable Fashion/Textiles / Visual Merchandising
My location: Dunedin, New Zealand
Veronica Wallace
First Name: Veronica
Last Name: Wallace
University / College: Otago Polytechnic
Course / Program: Fashion Design BDes
Graduates: 2023
Specialisms: Creative Direction / Sustainable Fashion/Textiles / Visual Merchandising
My Location: Dunedin, New Zealand
Website: Click To See Website
About
I am a 2023 Bachelor of Design in Fashion graduate from Otago Polytechnic Dunedin. I value fashion as one of the greatest forms of self expression, and I find a continuous sense of reward in being part of the world of design. I place a strong importance on sustainability, and supporting small & independent designers. I love being in a role that allows me to exercise my creativity and strengthen skill sets I have learnt during my studies. I also aim to be part of a brand/company that is sustainability-focused. As a designer I aim to create pieces that combine elegance and whimsy for results that invigorate the wearer and they'll want to keep in their wardrobe forever. I believe one of the first steps in practicing sustainability with fashion, on an individual level, is to connect with your own personal style expression and cherish the clothes you own.
For a project exploring the concept of 'Avant Garde' I made a wearable body plate piece out of copper wire, using a technique inspired by wire-wrapped jewelry. In time the copper will patina to match the cool toned outer fabric. Underneath the body piece is an asymmetric shift dress with outer layers of organzas; a plain orange under a shot (two-tone) green-blue. I created texture and shaping to the organzas with a textile manipulation method called boiled shibori. The contrasting cool and warm tones layered over each other are meant to illicit a feeling of unease and wonder simultaneously. For its sister outfit, the commercial diffusion of the original, I focused on the shapes and textures. I mimicked the effects of them with freehand machine embroidery and gathered ruffles. You can see this being worn in the 2023 'Zonta' fashion show in Dunedin by Yulia Kiseleva (Aart Model Management), photographed by Chris Sullivan of 'Seen In Dunedin'. The inspiration behind the pieces came from my struggle with my mental health. I tried to explore how it feels to grow and shape your identity while experiencing mental health problems. I envisioned mental illness as something that can envelop you and grow like vines, the good intertwines with the bad, to result in a multi-layered person. I referenced this visually through the organic form of the body piece and the layering of the organzas. ~80% of materials for both outfits were sourced second hand.