A 16-year-old has achieved a hat-trick after being named grand champion at Brisbane’s Ekka Natural Fibres Fashion Competition for the third year in a row.
Ormiston fashion designer Tayla McFarlane has come home with another win under her belt after placing in all her categories at this year’s Natural Fibres Fashion Competition at Brisbane’s Ekka show.
The Natural Fibres Fashion Competition is a make-and-model competition that sees aspiring designers showcase their latest creations.
This year, the young seamstress entered 11 garments and won four out of five categories – formal wear, casual wear, wool and adult day wear.
A vibrant daffodil-coloured dress made from organic linen crowned Tayla the overall grand champion.
The 16-year-old said the winning piece was perfectly crafted with a fitted bodice and a full circle skirt with contouring folds from the waistline to create a dramatic look.
“The inspiration was drawn directly from the fabric and the lemon colour just emphasised the vibes of summer and spring,” she said.
“I planned for the skirt to appear architectural with the lines and shapes that they formed with a simple bodice and finished with two different-sized bows on the shoulder to complete this elegant daywear look.”
Tayla said balancing school and fashion was a hard commitment but one she was willing to make.
“I am always busy, but it is a commitment that I love and am passionate about,” she said.
“My drive and will to pursue and achieve my dreams are stronger than this minor challenge and I will always put my fashion first.”
Tayla has been sewing since she was seven years old, designing and patternmaking since she was 11, and encourages anyone with a passion for fashion to give it a try.
“To be confident in yourself and have confidence with everything you do is the key to success,” she said.
Now that the 2023 Ekka competition is over, the young designer will be participating in the BrisbaneFashion Festival showcasing the label KG BOLD for her school Kelvin Grove State College. Tayla has her own brand called 7roses.
