Alex Perry Electrolux Search for Australia's Finest Fashion Talent Interview

Alex Perry Electrolux Search for Australia's Finest Fashion Talent Interview

Electrolux is launching a nationwide search to find Australia's most talented aspiring fashion designers, one of whom will win a six month paid apprenticeship with industry leader, fashion designer and Electrolux Fabric Care ambassador, Alex Perry.

Introducing the inaugural Electrolux Fashion Apprentice, a scholarship program designed to support young emerging fashion talent right here in Australia.

With over 17 years experience, Alex Perry has made his mark as Australia's most glamorous fashion designer and now for the first time, thanks to Electrolux, he is opening his studio doors for a skilled designer to learn direct from the fashion guru himself.

"The Electrolux Fashion Apprentice is a really exciting initiative and I'm delighted to give a promising fashion designer the opportunity to kick-start their career in a highly competitive industry," said Alex Perry.

"I'm interested to see people who produce impressive eveningwear designs, but also demonstrate a thoughtful selection of fabrics. I'm also looking for someone who is passionate, has a strong work ethic and shows great initiative. It's a tough world in fashion and you have to be willing to work hard."

"Electrolux is proud to be offering up-and-coming fashion designers this chance to shine. This competition and invaluable work experience with Alex Perry could see you fulfil your dreams and fast track your way to a successful career as a leading designer," stated John Brown, Managing Director of Electrolux Australia.

Four finalists will receive $500 to make their dress and be flown to Sydney with $1,000 spending money to present their design to Alex. One lucky entrant will win a six month paid apprenticeship in 2012 with Alex Perry and his team in his Sydney-based studio.

The winner will be treated to an inside look at what goes on behind Alex's studio doors. They will accompany Alex and his team during day-to-day duties, such as assisting with the development of dresses in the studio workroom, sourcing fabrics, meeting clients and preparing for and working backstage at Alex's infamous fashion shows.

For your chance to win a six month paid apprenticeship, with Alex Perry, you will need to design an evening wear gown that is machine washable or dryable in the Electrolux Time Manager Front Load Washer or Electrolux Iron Aid Condenser Dryer.

Top Tip: Alex will be looking for a garment that demonstrates a thoughtful selection of fabrics tosuit the needs of busy Australian women. For the chance to become the Electrolux Fashion Apprentice entrants should visit www.electrolux.com.au/fashionapprentice. Entries are open from 1 July 2011 and will close 26th September 2011.

Alex Perry Cuban Princess Second Summer Collection: https://www.female.com.au/alex-perry-cuban-princess-second-summer-collection.htmElectrolux Fashion Apprentice
Introducing the inaugural Electrolux Fashion Apprentice, a scholarship program designed to support young emerging fashion talent right here in Australia. One successful designer will win a six month paid apprenticeship with industry leader, fashion designer and Electrolux Fabric Care ambassador, Alex Perry.

Prizes:
Four finalists will receive $500 to make their dress design and be flown to Sydney with $1,000 spending money to present their design to Alex. One lucky entrant will win a six month paid apprenticeship in 2012 with Alex Perry and his team in his Sydney-based studio.

How to enter:
For your chance to win a six month paid apprenticeship, with Alex Perry, you will need to design an evening wear gown that is machine washable or dryable. TOP TIP: Alex will be looking for a garment that demonstrates a thoughtful selection of fabrics to suit the needs of busy Australian women.

Website:
For the chance to become the Electrolux Fashion Apprentice entrants should visit www.electrolux.com.au/fashionapprentice. Entries are open from 1 July 2011 and will close 26th September 2011.

Interview with Alex Perry

Question: Why have you decided to give Australians the opportunity to win a six month paid apprenticeship with you?

Alex Perry: Electrolux and I had been discussing it for a while now and I thought it would be great to offer an internship to a young designer. I've mentored young designers over the last couple of years, especially with my role on Project Runway and I thought it would be a great thing to involve a young designer and let them come in and see what really happens in my business. I have so many aspects of the business; the ready to wear line, the custom bridal and evening and I want to be able to show them the ins-and-outs of the company and working in the industry. I really think that this internship is a good fit especially because of my role on Project Runway.


Question: What are you looking for in the chosen designer?

Alex Perry: I'm looking for someone with a clear vision of where they want to go in the industry and someone that has a really great work ethic and can do a good days work. I would love for them to get a really good foot in the door while working here and leave with the knowledge of how they can achieve their vision.


Question: How has the fashion industry changed since you first started 'Alex Perry'?

Alex Perry: I think the biggest change has been that everyone started to produce offshore. When I first started, I was doing solely custom made and once I started doing ready to wear, I manufactured everything here in Australia. But when the larger companies started going offshore, you felt like you had to follow suit. Going offshore meant that you could offer fashion at a better price and sometimes a better quality and it offered a wider range of fabrics, beading and embroidery.


Question: Are there more opportunities nowadays for young Australian designers?

Alex Perry: I believe that the industry is a lot tougher nowadays than it was back when I was first starting out. The designers need to have more information and experience up their belts to move forward in the industry. Even though we have Project Runway and things like the Electrolux internship, that is only a handful of designers who are given the opportunity; I believe it is much more difficult.


Question: What was your inspiration for the collection 'Cuban Princess'?

Alex Perry: It was Cuban in colour and it was Cuban in the sense that I took a lot of inspiration from men's suiting and translated them into the shape of the women's suits and even into the shapes of some of the dresses.


Question: Can you describe the characteristics of a 'Perry Girl'?

Alex Perry: She's glamorous but self-confident and very self assured. She's a glamorous girl with a great personality and the combination of those two things make up the definition of a 'Perry Girl' for me.


Question: What do you believe is more important n fashion today? Quality or Quantity?

Alex Perry: Quality, definitely quality! I think quality has always has been more important, and I think it's nice that when you try and give quantity, it has a certain quality as well. That is the ultimate! If you could have quantity and have great quality!


Question: Can you talk us through a typical day in the 'Alex Perry' showroom?

Alex Perry: It's anything but typical here actually. Things just change so often. For me in particular, I try and cram so much into one week. There is my custom made clients, there is designing for the ready to wear for the next season, there is Electrolux commitments, Top Model commitments, designing for the Specsavers range and Project Runway commitments; I really have to look at the next couple of weeks and plan ahead.


Question: Do you believe that Australian fashion is still in high demand, even though we have so many overseas designers and department stores here?

Alex Perry: I think that Australian fashion fits in with the landscape of world fashion. I don't think that anyone has a wardrobe that is exclusive anymore. We have Australian fashion mixed with international pieces. I think the point of it is, its no longer about 'is there a demand in international countries?', but more 'does it fit into world fashion?' And I definitely think it does!


Interview by Morgan Sutherland