Sally Paull returned from The Australian Wool Fashion Awards (TAWFA) thrilled she had made the decision to pursue a career in fashion design.
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Held in Tamworth last week the awards attract entrants from throughout Australia and against this competition Sally gained first place with her entry in the Wearable Art section.
Sally’s creation was based on a Japanese movie ‘Princess Mononoke’ representing the spirit of the forest.
This year’s theme for the wearable class was Tribal and Sally’s 90 per cent Merino wool outfit certainly captures that theme.
“The main character in the film goes on a spiritual journey to save his community and that was my aim to capture that journey in the coat and pants,” she said.
“It is an art work that is wearable.”
The awards are designed to showcase the use of Merino Wool by national and international fashion designers and students.
The competitions main aim is to educate and encourage young designers in the wonderful qualities of wool.
Excited by the award and the event Sally is now determined to pursue a career in fashion something was wasn’t planning to do when she completed her HSC at St Catherine’s Catholic College in 2011.
The following year she started a Bachelor of Engineering Degree at the University of New England in Armidale.
“Well I was good at maths and science and I thought engineering would be ideal but after completing two years I had had enough,” she said. After 12 months working in Armidale she returned to the Hunter and enrolled in a Diploma of Fashion Design at Tighes Hill TAFE in Newcastle.
Friends and family who knew Sally loved to sew and create outstanding fancy dress outfits were pleased with her decision. Now undertaking an Advanced Diploma in Fashion Sally says she simply loves the industry.
“I realise now that art and creating fashion is want I want to do for my career – it might have taken a few years to get here but I am loving the work,” she said.