Paris beckons for young designer
An Auckland fashion student wants to win the AMP People’s Choice Scholarship as a step to his dream of designing in Paris.
Joshua Fache has a passion for fashion – and he wants to take it to Paris.
The AUT fashion design student plans to study for his masters degree at the Institut Francais de la Mode in Paris.
But first, he hopes to win the AMP People’s Choice Scholarship which awards $10,000 to the person with the most votes.
“This is the kind of scholarship anyone can apply for. It’s basically New Zealanders doing their thing, working hard and in the long term, helping New Zealanders.
“It’s very expensive to study in France and this is my ultimate goal. It would be nice to be recognised for my hard work,” says Mr Fache, 30.
Opened in 1986, the Institut Français de la Mode is the centre in France for training, research and expertise in the fashion design and creative industries.
Having first read Vogue as a teenager, Mr Fache says an eye for fashion was quick to emerge.
“It’s basically been an ongoing thing forever. We would have international magazines,” he says.
“My dad is French descent and my mum is Dutch. We have a lot of ties to Europe and a lot of it has come from there.”
Mr Fache spent four years in Sydney where he worked at Emporio Armani as a 2IC in womenswear before being offered a temporary role at Gucci.
The designer returned to New Zealand in 2007 to concentrate on his studies, having already earned a certificate in hairdressing and an advanced diploma in fashion.
Last year, he received the AUT Art and Design Excellence scholarship which was based entirely on his first year grades.
“I worked my ass off in everything I did and managed to pull mainly A’s, if not all A’s. It paid for my tuition last year.”
Mr Fache draws his inspiration from many designers, including Jean Paul Gaultier, John Galliano and Ricardo Tisci who designs for fashion label Givenchy.
Whether or not he wins this scholarship, Mr Fache will still apply to the French institute and if successful, will travel to Paris next August.
Right now, the student is happy juggling uni and his part time job at fashion store World, but Paris is where his future lies.
“I plan for the next 10 years to work for someone else and work my way up, speak fluent French and meet everyone that I need to be meeting,” says Mr Fache.
“After that, I want to launch my own label. I want to be the first haute couture designer in New Zealand. If Australia can do it so can we.”
See www.facebook.com/jfachedesigner or www.facebook.com/AMPdoyourthing. Voting closes on September 30 and the People’s Choice recipient is announced October 3.
See www.doyourthing.co.nz for more information on this scheme.
