Sustainability in Fashion and Creative Industries - Help an emerging designer raise tuition fees for her Masters in Berlin

Since graduating with a Bachelor of Design (Honours) in 2016, at Otago Polytechnic, it has been my intention to further my education by undertaking a Master’s degree that has sustainability at its core. My passion for sustainability stems from a strong moral compass and desire to make a positive impact on the world. I feel very privileged to have been accepted for the Sustainability in Fashion and Creative Industries M.A at Akademie Mode and Design (AMD) Berlin. This programme was developed specifically to generate experts in the field of sustainability while integrating this knowledge with creative design projects.

My home town of Dunedin is a creative city with an excellent design institution, as well as an active community of artists and designers. I have been able to study in New Zealand to Honours level with the help of student loans, however, there are no Master’s programmes in New Zealand that meet the specifications of my career goals. Due to my economic background I will be unable to undertake the programme at AMD without the generosity of individuals around the country. As sustainable design is a developing industry there is a demand for academics in this field. Students learn from four main areas of sustainability; Design Strategies, Marketing and Business, Production, and Design Concepts and Responsibility. These classes address topics including; Fashion and Society, Business Ethics in Changing Markets, Circular Supply Chain Management, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Sustainable Production, and Sustainable Fibres and Textiles. Rolf Heinmann, previous dean of the programme and Chairman of the Hessnatur Foundation, Institute for Applied Sustainability, described that during the first and second semesters students develop a background in sustainability through these core modules. Once they have this context they can apply this to their practice as designers and creatives. This will then be interpreted in the major research project that is the focus of the third semester. Germany is a country at the forefront of sustainability and creativity and Berlin is the epicentre of this. With the support of kind-hearted donors, I will have the opportunity to share this knowledge with local communities upom my completion of the programme and help New Zealand to become a leader in sustainable innovation.

I have a clear vision of my career in the future. Ultimately I plan to manage my own sustainable and ethically conscious business, while maintaining my unique aesthetic as a designer. I want to present a holistic approach to fashion; with the philosophy that a garment and its impact are considered from start to finish and will maintain lasting value for the wearer. Prior to focusing on my own business, I would relish the opportunity to work for businesses in New Zealand communities, using my skills and knowledge to promote sustainable processes as an integral part of the industry.

My work ethic and talent as a designer has been recognised on several occasions through prizes, awards and press articles. During the final year of my Bachelor of Design (Fashion) I received the Overall Excellence First in Class Award as the top academic student. I went on to achieve First Class Honours the following year in the postgraduate Honours programme. I was awarded scholarships in two consecutive years from the Education Foundation, a New Zealand fund that helps talented students to achieve goals outside of their financial reach. I was selected as one of eight students in my year group to showcase their work at Shanghai Fashion Week, 2015 as part of the Shanghai Sister City Project. The following year I was chosen for the Graduate Fashion Show at New Zealand Fashion Week, a showcase that debuted that year to promote the top graduates from around the country. In 2017 I was selected for the China Cup International Design Competition, for which I was flown to Shanghai to compete and won the Silver Prize.

I believe my perspective as a creative and field of interest for research are worth exploring and will contribute value in to the design industry. By undertaking AMD’s Sustainability in Fashion and Creative Industries Master’s programme I will be at the forefront of sustainable design innovation to create positive change in a global industry that affects millions of people. I am dedicated to achieving excellence in whatever I undertake and if I am fortunate enough to be the beneficiary of your donations I will be committed to doing justice to this honour.

Thank you in advance for your consideration.