Ren’s story: A dream come true

David Scott School student, Ren, felt her dreams had come true when she discovered her school had been invited to work on Melbourne Fashion Week’s Closing Runway. Little did she know that one of her creations would lead to a national TV news segment.

When Ren first heard about her school being involved with Melbourne Fashion Week, she couldn’t quite believe it: “I have loved fashion since I was a little girl. I honestly felt that my dreams had come true.”

Over several months, students from our David Scott School in Frankston worked closely with BSL’s op shop store crew to design and create garments from donated recycled material for the Melbourne Fashion Week closing runway. The experience was transformative.

David Scott School teacher, Georgina Shugg, found the students who took part in this incredible project simply relished every moment: “It was an incredible learning opportunity for all of them and a real taste of the work that goes into these sorts of events. And seeing the students watch the closing runway with some of their creations on display was just priceless.”

Ren never thought that her involvement with this dream project would also lead to a national news segment. She was interviewed by Channel 9 presenter, Brett McLeod, about her role in Melbourne Fashion Week and the closing runway at 101 Collins Street celebrating diversity, elegance and spectacle. The runway featured garments designed entirely from donated materials sourced from BSL op shops with a particular focus on reimagining corporate wear.

Following hair and make-up, and a personal tour of the nine newsrooms, Ren was led to the recording studio. She later shared her reflections about the whole experience: “It was all quite surreal. I was quite nervous in the lead up but once sitting at the desk, under the lights, even with all the cameras around, I felt at ease.”

Ren plans to pursue studies and a career in fashion after she graduates from David Scott School. But until that day comes her designed jacket will be on display at BSL’s Hunter Gatherer store in the Royal Arcade a few footsteps from Bourke Street Mall –that’s if it hasn’t been snapped up already.

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