• Why have you chosen this subject?

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I have chosen to do a BA in Fashion Design because it's a subject I've been very passionate about for many years. I've chosen this subject over others because I get to apply my creativity to the subject and I get to show others who I am and what I like to do with my work.\

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• Where do your skills and strengths lie within the subject?

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Ever since I've been interested in fashion design, I've been taking action to grow my skill set and strengthen my knowledge in fashion design. I would say I have gained a lot of strengths and skills, but going to (the university) will help me enhance those skills and help me become a successful fashion designer. My strengths in fashion design are creativity, versatility, making textiles, fabric manipulation, sewing, conceptualizing, and styling. All these skills are important and apply to fashion design.

• How can you show your competence in the subject?

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I can show my competence in fashion design through my portfolio. My portfolio shows a range of my work. It shows I can illustrate, sew, make textiles, photography, and understand this subject. Although the fashion design course is a competitive subject, I believe I have gained a lot of new skills in a short period of time and I can handle the competitiveness and I can learn a lot more skills in short periods of time which will help me if I take this course.

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• What skills have you learned through your current studies that relate to your subject?

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I've learned many new skills in my current studies. In my textiles class, I've learned how to conceptualize my ideas and learned how to present them to be visually understandable. I've learned how to improve my sewing skills. I've made many textiles, experimented with different materials which has expanded my skills and techniques. I've also learned how to do fashion sketches and how to organize my ideas. In my textiles class, I've unloaded my creativity and learned so many new valuable skills. In my media class, I've also learned many skills, such as organization, filming, photography, cinematography, editing, connecting to the client/target audience.

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• What independent reading or research have you done to expand your knowledge of the subject?

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​Virgil Abloh: Figures of Speech is a book that was published on August 9, 2022. It is an authoritative compendium created by the designer himself, Virgil Abloh, and offers in-depth analysis of his career and inspirations. The book is more than a catalog and is a 500-page user’s manual to Abloh’s genre-bending work in art, fashion, and design. The first section features essays and an interview that examine Abloh’s oeuvre through the lenses of contemporary art history, architecture, streetwear, high fashion, and race, to provide insight into a prolific and impactful career that cuts across mediums, connecting visual artists, musicians, graphic designers, fashion designers, major brands, and architects. The book also contains a massive archive of images culled from Abloh’s personal files on major projects, revealing behind-the-scenes snapshots, prototypes, inspirations, and more, accompanied by intimate commentary from the artist. Finally, a gorgeous full-color plate section offers a detailed view of Abloh’s work across disciplines.

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• What particularly interests you about the subject?

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I've always been interested in clothing. Ever since I was a kid, I always focused on clothes and I've always wanted to do/wear things differently. When it comes to fashion design, I've always wanted to learn how to properly make clothes because I've always been looking for different clothing or specific clothing because what I see in the shops isn't how I would want my style to look like. That’s how I started to get into fashion design. I started to customize my clothes in my own way to express my style. I also have grown to be very passionate about fashion design because to me it's a form of art but wearable. What interests me about fashion design is how I can express my work through clothes.

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• Why do you believe the subject is important in the grand scheme of things?

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I believe fashion is important because it's constantly changing and it has always been an important part of our history. It's also a form of self-expression of who you are or what you want to look like. It's also gotten even more important especially when it comes to sustainability. Fashion is a big polluter and making sure the future of fashion becomes sustainable, we need new minds that have grown up around sustainability. Sustainable fashion is important for the future.

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• Are there any causes or events that have guided you to choose this subject?

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 When I was younger, I couldn’t care less about fashion. I wanted nothing to do with it; I had a phobia of new clothes. Eventually, I got over it and I started to buy my own clothes. I did blend in with everyone in the beginning but after I started to have more individuality i started to like pieces that most people didn’t wear. I got some bright neon shoes that stood out from everyone and although everyone was talking about it and didn’t necessarily like the shoes I wore, I still wore them. Which was the start of my personality and my attraction to unliked things. I started making small outfits for my wooden mannequins. I made small outfits inspired by Billie Eilish's style. At the time, Billie Eilish was a big reason I started to wear what I wanted because she had a unique style and didn’t care what others said. This is when I first used the sewing machine and I used scraps of fabric I found at home and started going to the local craft store to buy material. I then started to change my wardrobe and bought some pieces of clothing that stood out from everyone but it was hard because most stores in malls sell what everyone wears so I started going to thrift stores and buy clothes to cut them up or paint them or resew them to have unique clothing. This started my obsession with fashion design. "Next in Fashion" is also a TV show that got me into fashion design.

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• Have you done any work experience that relates to your subject?

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During May, I did a one-week internship at an art gallery where I learned how to manage an art gallery, which included cleaning the paintings, cleaning the gallery, installing new paintings, creating research pages for the gallery's website, etc. I also was able to deliver a painting to clients and got the buyers to sign. Organized painting files, and gave a customer an overview of the gallery. I showed them around and told them what the exhibition is about and answered any questions the customer had.

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​I also had the privilege to attend Dubai Fashion Week where I sat in the front row to watch a student's fashion show and was able to get some contacts in the Dubai fashion show event.

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• Have you had a chance to apply some of the skills you’ve learned in your subject to real life?

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I've been able to apply customer service into real life. I was asked to make a custom calendar using my drawing style. I asked for specifications on the drawings, what she likes, what colors she wants me to use. I presented her a mood board that was alongside of what she asked for and she agreed to the mood board. She gave me a deadline and I gave the drawings to her on time. I asked if there was anything she wanted me to change or if there was something she would want me to fix or redo. She gave me some feedback and told me to change minimal things and I did. At the end I got paid and I had a happy customer.

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• Have you participated in any taster days or university days?

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I've attended four different university days, UAL Central Saint Martins, London Regents University, Istituto Marangoni Dubai, and Kingston School of Art. All universities had the same BA fashion design course. I learned a lot about each university, got to look at the campus, and talked to some of the students and tutors. I got a student's email, and she said she gives classes on making portfolios to get into university.

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• Have you completed any research or special projects in addition to your studies?

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I have done many projects in my own time outside of my studies.

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• What do you do outside your studies?

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I do a lot of things outside of my studies, such as volleyball. In volleyball, we don’t have captains but I act as the leader of the group also as the second coach. If the team isn’t doing what they're supposed to, I help keep the team in line. When I used to live in Singapore, I fostered cats in my free time which shows that I’m a caring and responsible person. I took care of the food, litter, choosing who gets adopted etc. I also used to keep my rats company and play around with them. Now that I’m in Dubai, I enjoy going to thrift stores and upcycling clothes for projects and for myself to wear. I rarely buy from retail stores because it's bad for the environment and I care about fast fashion. I also like to draw/illustrate outside of my studies as well as watch movies and shows which is a big part of my inspirations.

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• Do you have any additional responsibilities?

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As I mentioned before I used to be responsible for taking care of my rats and fostered kittens, but now I’m responsible for taking care of my home, doing my work.

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• Is there anything in particular you would like to take up at university?

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• I would really like to take up a Bachelor in Fashion Design Womenswear. But to get into the BA I will most likely have to do a Foundation year to enhance my skills to be ready for the BA in Fashion Design Womenswear.

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• What do you want to achieve at university?

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I want to leave behind a legacy at my university. I want to achieve what other big designers have achieved. 

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• Do you know what you want to do next?

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After university, I want to work at a fashion house as a designer, learn the steps, know the business, design for the house, grow my name and reputation in the fashion industry and possibly open my own fashion brand. Although this sounds like a big goal, it's my goal. I don’t want to hide behind the scenes I want to show my work, I want people to know me. This goal will be at the back of my head at any time and will help me move forward and get to that goal. But realistically after university or during, I will work at an internship to gain experience and expertise in the industry.

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• Have you got a particular career path in mind?

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I want to be a fashion designer. As a career, I will most likely have to start with entry-level jobs Design Assistant Merchandising Assistant, Stylist Assistant, Textile Assistant. But it is all depending on my reputation after university, my portfolio and my dedication to the job. I could start with a great fashion design job but realistically I will have to move up before starting to design for a brand.

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• How will the university help you get there?

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A university's BA fashion design program is a gateway to becoming a fashion designer. It provides a structured education that covers design principles, sewing techniques, fabric knowledge, and the history of fashion. With experienced faculty as your mentors, I'll explore my creativity and gain the skills I need to succeed. In well-equipped studios, will bring my design ideas to life and receive valuable feedback from professors and peers. University also offers ample networking opportunities, allowing you to connect with industry professionals and potentially secure internships or job offers. By the time you graduate, I'll have a strong portfolio showcasing my talent, making me well-prepared to enter