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Amy Van Luyk

AmyWe talked to Amy Van Luyk who's just finished her first year at the Fashion & Design School, CPIT, Christchurch.

Why did you choose to do Fashion & Design?
I didn't really have a burning ambition - I guess it all started because I didn't want to have to pay hundreds of dollars for a skirt I particularly liked. I'd see something in one of the expensive clothes shops and then go home and sew my own version for much less … and then I'd get a bit of a buzz when I got compliments about outfits I'd made for next to nothing! Also, I have a real passion for fabrics. I love the textures and fibres and mixing it all up and putting it all together. Plus, I was lucky enough to get a scholarship from Zonta, which paid for my first year at CPIT as well.
What do you need to be accepted?
The most important thing is to have great design ideas. That's what they're really looking for. It's not essential that you can sew or draw because these things can be taught to you - there were quite a few at the beginning of the course who really couldn't draw - my friend was one of them and she ended up winning the Best Design For First Years at the PITCH fashion show.
Can you remember what your first day was like?
It's really not that different to school, maybe just a bit bigger and it's still all about classrooms, timetables and 9-4 p.m. five days a week! The Fashion & Design department is separate to the rest of the Polytech. It's up by the Jazz School but you still have to go over to the use the library and stuff. The thing is, you're doing something you really love and sharing that with other people who feel the same way as you do, so that makes big difference. Everyone really wants to be there.
Fashion drawingSo, what's involved?
A whole lot of drawing … research on NZ designers … history of fashion (from Ancient Egypt on!) … textiles … making blocks for patterns … pattern making … and you spend heaps and heaps of time sewing straight lines and zigzags and all sorts of things in the first couple of weeks. It's mainly to get you used to the machines and handling different kinds of materials which is kind of boring really, especially for creative people, but the thing is you have to do the groundwork and that's all there is to it. The tutors really emphasise that - you HAVE to know exactly what's involved in making a garment right from start to finish.
Were there many people on the course?
I think there were two classes of 16 in the first year. A few dropped out and went off and did different things and I think there's just one class for the second year. What's really interesting though is that there were only two guys on our course and only one male designer showing in the third year at PITCH, which is kind of strange when so many of our top international designers are men! Maybe it's still part of our culture - where if a guy does certain things, like buy skin products or design clothes, he's looked on as being gay.
What was the highlight of the year for you?
Seeing my finished outfit in the fashion show, although we didn't get to see too much of it as we were out the back helping the models get changed. I loved Holly Liberona's collection, the Cat's Miaow - every single detail was so thought about.
And the lowlight?
Well, it did get a bit tedious at times but the tutors are fantastic and I'm so glad I stuck it out because when you look back you can really see just how far you've come in a year.
Do you have a favourite designer?
Marc Jacobs - he does a lot of teen clothing and it's fantastic. I also really like Karen Walker mainly because she chooses amazing season fabrics for her collections.
FashionWhat are you doing next year?
I'm off to Massey to do Textile Design. I have a real love affair for textiles and if I manage to stick it for four years I'll come out with a Bachelor of Design. But I definitely know it's time to change and I love Wellington. It's got a lot of creativity going on and the design college is in the old museum building which is a little bit like our Arts Centre.
Your dream come true would be …
I guess I'd like my own label but then again I'd also really enjoy working along a top designer as their fabric designer. Or maybe have my own chain of shops one day …
Do you have a favourite colour?
At the moment it's green. I love all sorts of green.
Favourite item of clothing?
Changes weekly!
Shoes?
Probably my sneakers. I love dainty shoes with high heels but I'll wear them for a day and then, inevitably, it's back to my sneakers again.
ShortsWhat fashion item should a guy or girl never be w'out?
Probably a good pair of jeans. It's hard to say really but one thing's for sure - you've got to feel comfortable and confident with what you're wearing coz if you don't it usually shows - and whatever the outfit is it'll usually look awful!
What do you consider to one of the worst fashion bloopers?
Probably the whole of the '80's … oh, and pointy bras …