Nikki Edgar is a second year Bachelor of Fashion Design student at LCI Melbourne who plans to enter the Emerging Designer Award. With a passion for upcycling and re-imagining old garments as new fashion hits, she’s all about bringing a sustainable vision to the track.
“During lockdown I started sewing and it inspired me to want to upskill and design clothing for myself and others too,” says Edgar.
“I have always been interested in the construction of fashion and this award gives us a chance to explore the notion of what it is, in a very unique way,” she says.
From exploring architectural concepts in her fashion design, to a love of geometric print and the use of shinier fabrics, Edgar is all about tapping into what makes fashion fun.
“Even though a lot of what I design is feminine, I have mixed it with androgynous looks. I think it’s really timely to merge the two ideas together,” says Edgar who leans into dresses as well as jumpsuits in her creations.
“We don’t have to put a label on what we can and can’t wear.”
“The art of fashion is finding your voice and experimenting with silhouettes. It’s what I am loving right now,” Edgar says.
She turns an old wedding dress into a theatrical fashion statement at a fraction of the cost, where you’d hardly even know it once walked down the aisle. And when paired with millinery by Georgia Skelton, becomes a race-appropriate showstopper.
“I pulled the wedding dress apart and dyed it to give it a new life,” says Edgar of her design process.
“I put it back together in different ways and that’s the process I love about being creative. I’m all about creating different shapes you wouldn’t expect to see worn on the body and then mix it with elements of traditional construction.”
Edgar, also a classically trained musician who spent her time playing in a band, is collaborating with singer songwriter Cheeky Velvet and designing costumes for her music video clips too.
“My designs are very performative, and it’s that playfulness and theatre I like to bring to the everyday stage of life and I hope to bring to my entry this year,” she says.
Edgar hasn’t entered the Emerging Designer Award before or even attended the Melbourne Cup Carnival, but is excited to see her fashion take on a whole new meaning at the track.
“I love that our garments become something extra when paired with millinery.”
“The millinery that Georgia Skelton made for my dress had a futuristic and sci-fi vibe to it. I like the idea of extravagant and bold shapes because fashion is a performance,” she says.
“I also really like that we can go a bit extreme in this award category. It gives you a chance to present something that isn’t everyday wearable, is more conceptual in mind, but totally eye- catching and unique. That’s the key to a winning look.”
