Past informs fashion line

Whanganui UCOL third-year Bachelor of Fashion student Simmi Choudhary wears one of Quintin Riley's (left) 'Daughters of Ireland' signature collection. PHOTO/STUARTMUNRO

Looking into his past Quintin Riley was inspired by three Celtic goddesses for his "Daughters of Ireland" signature collection which he showed in the Whanganui UCOL Bachelor of Fashion "Unleashed" in the Atrium.

"Looking into my past has led me to find something beautiful that has translated into my collection," he said this week on his return to his spot in the fashion school where he spent his final year.

Wanganui was good to him in the four years he was here, and enjoying the course was all the better for his time studying in the city.

The first year was the Certificate of Fashion which gave him entry to the fashion school.

And now he's at home in Shannon, from where he'll head to Wellington to knock on doors to find a place for a couple of years' work experience in the fashion industry.

Mr Riley will be taking his "Daughters of Ireland" live portfolio, which he sews under his "She found it" label.

A live portfolio will give those Mr Riley's out to impress, garments to hold and examine the attention to detail in his wool/rayon and wool/polyester blend collection.

Mr Riley's interest in fashion was started when his mother Susan taught him how to use a sewing machine when he was six, and in his teen years it was British designer Alexander McQueen who captured his creative imagination.

And then five years ago Heidi Klum's Project Runway set him on his career path to where he eventually hopes to create his own line.

Coming from a family of four sisters the transition to being the only male in the class was easy for for the 22-year-old.

Fashion administrator Glenys Main says the school averages one male student each year in the Bachelor of Fashion degree which started in February 1999.