Young Wiradjuri designer’s pops of colour on show at Australian Fashion Week

For four years, fashion design student Renee Henderson commuted by train from Wollongong on the NSW south coast to Sydney for her studies.

“It was a struggle, but it was enjoyable.”

This week the graduate of the Fashion Design Studio will be driving herself to Sydney’s Carriageworks to participate in Australian Fashion Week.

It’s the young Australian designer’s third runway event.

“I am super excited to have my collection, and fellow classmates’ collections, on the runway,” said the Wiradjuri woman from Wollongong.

Ms Henderson’s fashion label is Lychee Alkira.

Pops of colour

Ms Henderson was always interested in fashion, but never knew she could pursue it as a career until she applied to the Fashion Design Studio at TAFE NSW in Ultimo in inner Sydney and was accepted.

The degree requires each student to create an eight-look collection.

“The first two years of the degree you’re thinking about what you are going to do in third year because it’s a big deal, and you work on this project for the whole year, so it has to be something you love,” Ms Henderson said.

“We choose what inspires us as designers, what we want to put out in the world, then we go on to colour palettes, and it just goes on from there.”

Lychee Alkira designs have pops of colour and the textures involve a technique Ms Henderson created using plant material.

“But on top of that is an extra layer of screen printing.

“So it isn’t just the eco-printing with natural elements, there’s an eco-repeat in the silk screen.”

Instrumental to her success has been the industry exposure and connections she has made on her journey so far.

“Mob In Fashion, a creative agency, offered me a place on their runway for emerging designers at Melbourne Fashion Festival shortly after I invited them to see my collection at TAFE NSW’s graduate runway show in November 2023,” Ms Henderson said.

“It’s been an incredible experience and it’s amazing to now be showing at Australian Fashion Week.”

She collaborated with Indigenous artist Merindah-Gunya, based in Melbourne. 

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“I sent her a canvas material, then she painted on it and sent it back to Wollongong where I created a screen from her print and then screen printed on top, so it was definitely a new process for both of us,” Ms Henderson said.

“We created a print together to showcase both our cultural identity and the connection we have.”

Lychee Alkira now a 12-piece collection

Ms Henderson’s collection includes swimwear, coats, pants, and party dresses. 

“We did sketches every day just experimenting and then slowly throughout the year you develop samples and new designs, and then you come up with the final product,” she said.

“When I graduated, I had eight pieces.

“Melbourne Fashion Festival needed 10 and now Sydney at Australian Fashion Week needs 12, so I have slowly extended my graduate collection.”

Ms Henderson is proud of her achievements.

“In the beginning I thought about what I wanted on the runway, not so much what would happen after the show,” she said.

The Innovators

The Fashion Design Studio started in 1955 as a dressmaking school.

“Now we are one of Australia’s most acclaimed fashion design schools,” said the studio’s Laura Washington.

For 25 years it has collaborated on The Innovators, the longest-standing consecutive show with Australian Fashion Week, which celebrates the next guard of young designers launching their careers.

Four women were selected this year, including Ms Henderson and alumni members Dion Lee, Zimmermann, and Akira on the runway.

“It’s a real celebration of the contribution the Fashion Design Studio has made to the Australian fashion industry,” Ms Washington said.

“Renee is a creative, intelligent young woman with dreams and ambitions, and I think she will be great”.