Mt Gravatt TAFE students hit Cirque du Soleil red carpet

Two fashionistas from Brisbane’s southside showcased their striking and colourful designs at the opening night of Cirque du Soleil’s Kurios: Cabinet of Curiosities.

Two southside fashionistas showcased their striking and colourful designs at the opening night of Cirque du Soleil’s Kurios: Cabinet of Curiosities.

Raine Zhong from Mansfield and Garnet Bryant from Mt Gravatt were among a group of fashion students (and their models) from the TAFE Queensland Mt Gravatt Campus who created some eye-popping late 19th Century, steam-punk inspired outfits in theme with the production design of Kurios: Cabinet of Curiosities.

Fashion model Nicole Lazzarin.

The eight students from Brisbane, Toowoomba, Gold Coast and Moreton Bay worked for weeks to design and sew the amazing outfits.

The premiere was held under the big top at Northshore Hamilton on Friday, January 10 to great acclaim with dozens of local sporting, business and media identities joining thousands of other excited Brisbanites in flocking to see the spectacular production.

Fashion model Nicole Lazzarin wore the design by Raine and the Garnet wore her own design.

Garnet Bryant and Natasha Farrar.

“Corset, long skirt, frills, pagoda sleeves, which were prevalent during the Industrial Revolution, are adopted to reveal the characters of the times,” Raine said. “Fabric with stripes is applied around the corset and hem to break the tedium and elegance of the blue dress. “The white shirt, stylish fringe shoulder epaulettes with silver and gold metal button, the metal chains on shoulder and waist belt as well as the shape of the hat inject power and masculinity into the whole dress to balance the femininity brought by the waist belt, fabric flowers and two tunnels on the front skirt. An old watch on the hat evokes a sense of the age.”

“Inspired by Victorian evening wear, a severe look evoking thoughts of Gothic tea parties and cluttered writing desks,” Garnett added.