End of year Fashion Show time | Couture on Ice !! <3

Posted on December 2, 2011 by rratavosi

So it’s that busy time of year again – it’s all rush-rush, running around buying shoes and accessories for the looks, doing alterations, castings and fittings for the fashion show !

All the hard work has paid off and now it’s SHOWTIMEE !!!

Would love you all to be in the audience watching my collection come to life on the runway both knitwear and men’s and women’s collection.

Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at Raffles College of Design and commerce – located on 99 mount street, north Sydney – ph. :9922 4278 . Link to location for tickets is here.

THE FASHION SHOW

When : December 7th

Where: Byron Kennedy Hall, Fox Studios – Building 220, 122 Lang Rd, Moore Park NSW 2000

Time: 7:30pm

Mens and Womens | Marking Day

Posted on November 25, 2011 by rratavosi

Just a quick shot from the marking day | Full story here.

The journal entries before the due date. | Mens and Womens wear part duex

Posted on November 24, 2011 by rratavosi

As we all know I’ve been busy as hell trying to get my toosh into order for a very hectic time of year in a “ fashion student world ”. So I finally Present to you the entries of this time as I couldn’t blog them right away.

Monday – the 14th of November – first week back into it fully –

All I have are my patterns, myself and my fabrics. Some things need tweaking, others need redesigning and reworking or just simply need to be sewn. Status about getting finished right now is “totes not going to get there”

Tuesday – the 15th of November

8 more days – all I get done is the bustier shell – Freaking out process starts to kick in, in the later hours of the night.

Friday – the 18th of November

By Friday all I had done was a bustier shell, separate front and back pieces for my ladies pants, and a very small no seams Ponte dress silhouette and that’s about it. So many problems begun to arise and soon enough I had all these negative thoughts up in my head about not being able to finish on time ! By the late afternoon the pants were ready to go with something as stress-less as a hook and bar to be sewn onto the waistband. Something in my paranoid little head made me want to put it on someone with a model like figure to really make me believe that another garment could be almost finished. Luckily there were fit models next door – unfortunately, as i had anticipated, her foot couldn’t make it through the tight jodhpur leg (the zips I added just weren’t long enough) ! yes – you guessed it – that meant NOT a finished garment, but one that had to be unpicked as well as new longer zippers being bought ! A disastrous cigarette leg that not even an anorexic leg could fit into What a great way to end the college week – some more disappointments, greater stress to calm level. Not one complete look and menswear hadn’t even begun !

I’d been working long hours, every day AND night – was the slightest bit of progress too much to ask for ? Seriously, Haven’t I been through enough ?

The weekend

So the weekend arrived, I had to suck it up even more and work even harder as I was the only one far, far behind ! It was very hard – not recovered well, hardly eating or resting – it was painful and yes I whinged and cried and threw little tantrums ( tantrums that I personally felt I was entitled too !) I tried to do my best with my men’s looks as the dying and bleaching had to be done on the weekend or else it would never dry in time ! Slight success with the colours, but I was still a little “iffy”.

Monday – Week that its due – 21st of November

And again all I have completed is a bustier and now a men’s top that I used as a replacement ( there was no way that I could have my men’s jacket done in time – no leather left, no money, no time)

It was all about reworking and trying to stay on task, as hard as it was – I was able to do it.

I tried my hardest to sew the shell of my jacket with the help of a very lovely family friend who assisted me along the way ! ( for that, I greatly appreciate her time and efforts )

At this stage, the men’s pants needed to be sewn as they had now been treated and were at drying, the ladies jacket and ladies dress both needed to be worked and that was all left for the only machine time before the marking on Wednesday afternoon !

Wednesday 23rd November – a Day before the marking

Time : 9.40 pm

Status: just got off the train, super tired – body about to shutdown.

I had my final booking with my machinist “ Connie” on Wednesday (Connie – who it would have been impossible without – I thank her a million times over !)

I had been working very late every night last week and this week as well, trying to get the collection done. Aiming to bring to life a collection within a tight period of one and a half to two weeks was not easy. The weather was dull and Rhaya Ratavosi was definitely not going home – no way – not until all of this had been done ! I had been working too hard now and had put my body through so much pain to just quit now and not have anything done ( AND BESIDES its totally NOT MY STYLE – to not finish something I Begun, that’s a big fat FAIL for me ). After a long day working my heart away, i was relieved to see the collar on the dress being sewn and buttonholes being marked. That meant the last thing that would complete my collection was almost done.

So i finally get home and the buttons and buttonholes get done – they weren’t perfect like I would usually have them but a home job here and there I can live with.

Overall, I’m quite proud of myself. I hope they are proud of my efforts and accomplishments too ! That would really make my year !

Here’s to a very short but well-earned 4 and a half hours of sleep before I have to be up again.

Thursday – Marking Day

8.50am – my first model arrives. Just seeing the process, from my own eyes and knowing what I went through, witnessing the first look on a live model, was just divine ! It felt so good – like everything Id been putting my health up for was finally up in my face complementing me back. Marking went great, with only a few minor changes here and there, they were proud of me and I was very pleased with the outcome. Looks like all the hard work paid off. Now only a little bit more stress to go until it’s really all over.

❤

Let me be an example – an example for those people who think they cant achieve what they want to achieve. Let this be an example to give courage, faith and belief to people, to have it in themselves , that they are capable of doing impossible things. Let it inspire those who at times burn out and need guidance. You’re not alone – I used to think I was – but we’re not. Do what you have to do, go for what you want to go for – don’t let others chose that for you.Plenty of people go through life changing things, misfortunes, and challenges on a daily basis – it all depends on how you chose to conquer it. Will you sit back and state the obvious that you’re a fragile being that cant do anything or will you suck it up and pull through it because u are still the same person deep down – a dam fighter ?

I’m not going to lie, it wasn’t easy. It never is ! It’s not easy to be motivating yourself at all ! In fact, I didn’t think Id make it but there I was Thursday morning coming home from marking sitting on a train and thinking to myself F*#k I did it – its done. OMG ! I’m a bloody legend. ha-ha !

Last night having something as little as buttons and buttonholes to do – yes it took long for it too finish and yes it was quite late into the night and sleep was a minimum but after all I’ve sacrificed I’m sure that part was the easiest. The feeling that a big weight ha been lifted off your shoulders is the most rewarding relief ever. To be able to look back and see how Quickly I was able to turn over the pieces was amazing !

After all – by tomorrow this event will be part of the past… see…

Well it’s time for the ‘dnm’ to be over – I took some quick shots of my collection. Hope you enjoy them.

before I end this post I’d love to thank everyone who was part of this, from dealing with my stresses to helping me bring the collection to life ! I love you all.

xxxx much love, Yours Truly

RHYversusWORLD

First day back after surgery | Trying to Bounce back !

Posted on November 7, 2011 by rratavosi

First day out again – Trying to bounce back from Recovery – its hard !

The winds blowing and the sun is scorching ! A hot spring day – Monday morning couldn’t of been presented any better.

The smell of the air as I get off the train and walk up North Sydney Station steps revives me. Two weeks of slow recovery, I was glad to be back again. A thirty minute train ride, and yes I still can’t sit so just imagine.(I was on my feet the whole day until I got to the car to go home, where I lay in the backseat whinging – just casually… ha !)

I was Embracing the walk from Station to college.

Waddling around the crowds. ( mind you I STILL have half my stitches in and crowds of people LOVE bumping into me – making the pain WORSE – but hey what did i expect on my first day out !)

When I finally arrived I felt like I was home again. The big Yellow Raffles square out front and the businessmen smoking their cigarettes, drinking their coffees, the loud chatter of the fashion students, the warmth of my friends ! Yep – It felt good to be back !

Not much to say about my first day besides the fact that our presentation went surprisingly well *sigh of relief*, I’m actually really proud of my group for pulling it together the way they did – yayyyy !!! OH AND PERSONALLY I believe our group rocked it with the Steam punk presentation.

Other than that my day was quite overwhelming and tiring. So little went on yet so much energy involved. I missed this Chaos – I love it, and to be honestly I can’t see myself with out it …really.

Well I have My Men’s and Womenswear Class on Wednesday and as you know I’m very behind and only God knows how much more work I have left to do.

D e a d l i n e a p p r o a c h i n g

Looking forward to it though and of Crouse all the stress and pressure that accompanies it – BUT – if I’ve learnt anything these two dreadful boring weeks of recovery is that whether you lose your cool or keep it – either way what has to happen will – so I guess I’mma keep my hat on and play the calm cards !

I’ll keep you posted on the collection !

xxxx Much Love, Yours Truly.

RHYversusWORLD

Mens and womenswear | Part un

Posted on November 3, 2011 by rratavosi

One of my most favourite parts within designing a collection is the fabrication. I could spend Days, even weeks just looking at different fabrics, textures, weights and contents. It fascinates me because you have to have a great eye not only choosing the appropriate fabric but also colour for the season and collection. You not only have to make the sketch come alive but you have to be able to tell a story, to make sure people understand and most importantly its flow.

For my mini men’s and womenswear collection “amore amore” alot of thought went into the fabrication. It’s a very important part depending on which way you work – whether you select your fabrics first then design, or vice versa.

For the women’s collection I wanted to focus more on accentuating feminine curves and mixing it up with a touch of androgyny such as masculine tailoring which is very evident in my ladies dress. It’s very two faced – in the sense that you look at it once and you say “wow she looks gorgeous, an absolutely stunning feminine piece – great shape”, but then you look at it again and you say to yourself “man I should step back – she’s in charge” – There’s a big boom of dominance in the female pieces ! Their trendy yet edgy !

Coming to fabrication – Feminine fabrics such as sheer silk organza’s and laces were a priority as well as mixing it up with a completely opposite heavy, authoritative, and grunge yet expensive clean look, the fabrics that shouted that out were genuine leather and real fur. Driving from one wholesaler to another in Sydney, trying to find what it was that I Loved and wanted the most – I must say It took forever but the reward the journey brought was great ! There is a bit of quilting evident within my designs which I think is a very strong element of masculinity as well as leather slashing !

The men’s look was kept very basic in design but it is the busy fabrication that will give you that touch of luxury as well as making you stand out from the crowd. For the men’s pant piece I chose the classic 5 pocket styled jean and for fabrication it will be a very crazy random tie dyed red and burgundy denim. I’ll keep it quiet on the men’s look and just surprise you all when the time comes !

The colours I chose for the looks for the brie are very “amore amore”. Burgundy and deep reds with a splash of live reds and black. At the same time, you can’t allow yourself to get too crazy because it’s a RTW collection so people have to be able to wear it on a day to day basis.

It was good to have been designing for FW 12 – stepping away from last years summer themed briefs. I really do enjoy my course and for those of you who think it’s all fun and games and dress ups – its honestly not – I must say those who have turned around and said that to me really don’t understand ! – That shirt you’re wearing – yes even those designer pants ! It has taken someone through a very stressful yet enjoyable journey and has been successful enough to make it into stores and into your closet ! Appreciation for the industry, whether you like that designers style or not – I appreciate it … Do you ?

It’s been a very long journey for me this semester, considering my operation – I’ve had some time off from it all trying to recover ( which i might add – slow process much !!), I’m really looking forward to next week back – I’ll have three weeks to re-work my patterns – those that need to be fixed – then to be re sampled/toiled, and finally to produce the actual collection – EEEEKKK !!! the amount of pressure and stress – I’m sure you’ll hear from it on my blog !

Cannot wait to share the collection with you !

p.s Check out the beautiful Lace samples I got ! The first is a French Lace, followed by Guipure Lace which is the one I’ll be using as it goes well with the amore amore - blood/veined theme. Bot