Laura studied a Diploma of Fashion Design and then completed her Advanced Diploma of Fashion Design. She started with her eye on costume design, but after experiencing the fast-paced and trend-driven environment of the global fashion scene, she was hooked.
Throughout her time in the industry, Laura has worked across multiple categories for men, women, and children, including swimwear, underwear, sportswear, day wear, and evening wear.
Laura’s fashion career has seen her traveling to Indonesia, China, and Hong Kong to find suppliers, create relationships with factories, and manage production. She loves learning about new trends in the design and production process and emerging technologies in the TFC industry that she can also share with her students.
Laura now focuses on teaching and loves mentoring her students and guiding them to bring their creative visions to life. Recently, she started getting requests to make wedding, bridesmaid, and formal dresses from some friends and family, which has led to her founding her label Poppy and Blake.
With a passion for delicate fabrics, fine craftsmanship, and intricate details, she spends many hours each week in her home studio creating one-of-a-kind bridal gowns for her clients.
Ever since I was a child, I was always overdressed for every occasion. I loved immersing myself in fashion magazines and watching fashion TV. Creativity was second nature to me—I was constantly making and designing things.
However, the true turning point that sparked my passion for a career in fashion came during my final year of high school. For my major project, I spent a year researching, designing, and creating a costume for a Moulin Rouge dancer. I adored every moment of the process, and my design not only won an award but was also exhibited at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney.
After high school, I pursued a Diploma in Fashion Design, initially aiming to become a costume designer. But everything changed when I interned at Australian Fashion Week. The fast-paced, trend-driven excitement of designer fashion captivated me, and I was hooked.
I love the opportunity to apply everything I’ve learned in a fresh and meaningful way. Guiding students as they discover and reach their full potential is incredibly rewarding. Their creativity continues to inspire me.
Attention to detail!! This is the most important quality in any designer. It's the finest details that will set you and your designs apart from the rest. Fabric choice, button placement, print scale, garment fit all these tiny choices add up to make the whole design. Never settle for the first choice, try every possibility to make sure the final design is the perfect combination of all the finer details.
I think my own wedding dress will always be my favourite. I fell in love with this amazing gold pleated organza and bought it without any idea what I was going to do with it.
My teaching philosophy centres around fostering creativity, attention to detail and technical skills. I believe that every student has a unique voice and perspective, and my role is to help them discover and refine it. While technical proficiency in design, pattern making, and sewing is essential, I also emphasize the importance of developing a strong creative process, from concept to final product.
I believe pattern-making is where the true design process unfolds. While beautiful sketches offer a vision, it's in pattern making that the real decisions are made—proportions, fullness, sleeve and hem lengths, and the positioning of design lines. Even the smallest variation in these details can significantly impact the final result. Over the years, I've honed my skills in both manual and digital pattern-making techniques. Now, I am passionate about sharing my knowledge with students, guiding them to appreciate the intricacies of pattern making and helping them refine their craft.
In my personal style I am always trying to use contrast to create interest. I love walking the line between masculine and feminine: a structured blazer over a flowy ruffled dress, a feminine top and pointed heels dressed down with distressed jeans. I have always loved the wardrobes of Kate Moss and Poppy Delevingne.
For me, inspiration often begins with the materials. I love sourcing unique fabrics and trims, and from there, I experiment with different combinations and placements on my mannequin. My creative process is guided by the mood boards I constantly curate—usually a blend of the latest runway trends, iconic celebrity looks, and vintage magazine imagery. I also incorporate a variety of textures, I love layering unexpected textures to create unique fabrics.
My favourite part is constantly being exposed to new designs and ideas. The students are always introducing me to new brands and designers, which helps me stay connected to the ever-evolving world of fashion.
Never stop learning. Get as much work experience as you can and create your own personal projects in your spare time. Always look for opportunities to learn about a new technique, fabrication, or designer.
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