Recently I've had a few interviews and thought I'd answer some questions as people are a bit curious as to some things:
(also please check out my facebook page
facebook.com/BelindaZanelloFashion )
- What's your story? (Life, study, influences, were you confident in your
career choices etc)
My
grandmother was a seamstress, my mum an artist and my dad a building designer
so I think I’ve inherited the design/art attributes. In high school I was
guided by my art teacher to pursue fashion and wearable art which led me to
then study Fashion Design at Tafe SA for 3 years. After that I worked in the
costume department of Opera SA for two years and learnt a lot. I am also a
stylist on fashion shoots and music videos, blogging and selling my clothing,
jewellery and fashion illustrations online. I work freelance now, recently as
costume designer for Hairspray at St Aloysius.
I also taught sewing, pattern
making and personal styling at a local community centre and caught the teaching
bug, so I’m now also studying a bachelor of Education in Home Economics
(focussing on Fashion and Visual Arts Education.) at Uni SA. Sewing is becoming
a dying art and also for our fashion industry in Adelaide, we need to expand
and apply ourselves and that starts with education and opportunities provided.
- You're The Blank Canvas winner! What do you think set you out from the rest?
I really wanted to stay true
to the ‘blank canvas’ concept, keeping my fabric solely as the cream calico.
The design is very much what I felt was ‘art meets fashion’ with a bit of
architectural structure. It plays with the historical pannier hoop skirts from
the 1700’s and then has a futuristic streamlined top with a highly contoured
tall neckline and darted cap sleeves. The honeycomb technique is usually done
on a small scale, appearing like smocking. However I wanted to play with
proportion and scale and make it larger than life. I also wanted the honeycomb
to start small and gradually become larger at the bottom of each piece. There
were a lot of trials and experimentation.
- Any other prizes you've applied for & tips for success?
I’ve entered several Art exhibitions/competitions in the past, sometimes
submitting gowns instead of the expected art piece and it’s been fun to do
something unpredictable and just have a go. This month I was the only finalist
from SA to have been chosen for the National Campus Art Prize for my
photography piece ‘Sleeping Beauty’. It was a real surprise because I’ve only
just started photography this year at uni! At the end of the day, you regret
more the things you didn’t do than the things you did. So I just say have a go.
You really have nothing to lose. You will grow from it, find the courage to try
again and again and see how much you really love what you do.
- What & where did you study?
I studied for an Advanced Diploma in Applied Fashion Design and Technology
for three years at Tafe SA and also have a Certificate in Corsetry. Currently
I’m in my second year of (Home Economics) Education at Uni SA, minoring in
Visual Arts.
- Any hot tips for new or existing students on how to approach course choices?
Make sure it’s something you
really, really love with all your heart, otherwise you’re doing it for the
wrong reasons.
Get as much work experience
in the industry first, especially if you’re studying fashion, so you really
know what you’re getting yourself into. The industry is not all glamour, it’s a
lot of hard work and you need a thick skin to handle criticism and rejection.
- What have you found to be challenges in you study/career and to have any tips
on how to combat them?
I think the biggest lesson of all, most importantly is to have fun and stay
true to the integrity for your design style, don’t try and please everyone.
It’s impossible. Always work to a schedule to stay on track and network,
network, network! Adelaide is small but that doesn’t mean it’s to your disadvantage.
We have so much talent in this city and can apply it to help each other out and
keep the future of the fashion industry in Adelaide.
www.facebook.com/BelindaZanelloFashion
A Fashion Illustration. They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not
weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in
the morning, We will remember them. www.facebook.com/BelindaZanelloFashion
Featured in RIP IT UP MAGAZINE Oct 24-30th 2013 Issue. Pg. 31
Recently I've had a few interviews and thought I'd answer some questions as people are a bit curious as to some things:
I’ve entered several Art exhibitions/competitions in the past, sometimes
submitting gowns instead of the expected art piece and it’s been fun to do
something unpredictable and just have a go. This month I was the only finalist
from SA to have been chosen for the National Campus Art Prize for my
photography piece ‘Sleeping Beauty’. It was a real surprise because I’ve only
just started photography this year at uni! At the end of the day, you regret
more the things you didn’t do than the things you did. So I just say have a go.
You really have nothing to lose. You will grow from it, find the courage to try
again and again and see how much you really love what you do. 
I think the biggest lesson of all, most importantly is to have fun and stay
true to the integrity for your design style, don’t try and please everyone.
It’s impossible. Always work to a schedule to stay on track and network,
network, network! Adelaide is small but that doesn’t mean it’s to your disadvantage.
We have so much talent in this city and can apply it to help each other out and
keep the future of the fashion industry in Adelaide. 
Fashion Global, Sept 24th 2013.
I wanted to contribute something for Wear it Purple day (Aug 30th) and Daffodil Day (Aug 23rd) but couldn't think what I had to give. I couldn't but all the wrist bands in a shop, they were all sold out anyway. Having friends and family affected both by cancer and also to show my support for LGBTI young people by saying no to bullying based on sexuality or gender diversity. You have the right to be proud of who you are. So I thought I'd do two fashion illustrations for you, to give something to show my support for both days. facebook.com/BelindaZanelloFashion
I'm still seeing stars from Saturday night at Honda Present's A Night of Fashion at the Art Gallery.
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This year I've been studying photography at Uni SA. I bit the bullet, bought my first SLR camera and had a go. For our final assignment we had to produce 6 images using photo manipulation skills on Adobe Photoshop CS6 and of course our camera skills, shooting manual. I'd like to thank all my friends who modelled and helped me, offered guidance and supported me.
