Charly Thorn is a fashion prodigy. She is 18 years old and has an incredibly bright future ahead of her. I had the privilege of viewing Charly’s collection last year at Fashfest, and I am not alone in saying that it was one of my favourites. Her models sashayed down the runway in metallic and rose gold, with edgy hairstyles and on trend sneakers. At the conclusion of her collection she received a standing ovation! This year I made sure to take the time to get an insight into the world of Charly Thorn and her collection for Fashfest 2017:
At 18 years old you are the youngest designer presenting at the 2017 Fashfest in Canberra. What is your first memory of creating clothes, or the moment that you knew you wanted to work in the fashion industry?
My first memory creating clothing was when I was about 4 years old and I would cut tiny pattern pieces from colored paper and make dresses for my Barbie dolls. I don’t remember doing anything else as a child. I was either drawing dresses or making dresses. I have always had fashion design in my blood.
They say that if you love what you do you will never work a day in your life. Do you find this to be true when creating your collections?
I believe that there is no success without plenty of hard work. However, what drives me to do the hard work is the passion I have for what I love and knowing that the outcome is well worth it. I love working hard to get to where I want to be.
At last year’s Fashfest your collection featured elements of rose gold and metallic. What can we expect to see from you at Fashfest 2017?
You can expect to see a very feminine and fierce resort collection for my SS18 showcase. My collection features 100% natural fibers and hero’s Australian Merino Wool. I am very excited to again be using our local material.
Countless hours go into the preparation for a red carpet event such as Fashfest. What goes on behind the scenes, and how far out from an event does preparation start?
Well we are just over a month away from opening night and I’m still sewing! I started preparing my collection in late May/June and still have a fair way to go. It takes a while for me to refine my vision completely and honestly, I will still be evaluating up until the last minute. I have learned to trust my creative process and let the collection unfold as I go.
You have just graduated high school and are keeping busy with a traineeship with online women’s fashion retailer Birdsnest. Will you continue to create your own collections on the side, or an appearance at Fashfest 2018?
I will continue to do this “on the side” until the ‘on the side jobs’ take over and become my career haha. I am working hard now to create collections from scratch but soon I am hoping the momentum will catapult me into my career. I still want to study fashion and business further and am looking to apply for scholarships both locally and internationally for 2018.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Honestly I don’t even know where I will be in 10 weeks. I would like to live as many experiences as possible, gain knowledge and insight into the industry I crave, and then solve the world’s fashion waste issue for good. I am very excited about the future of fashion, technology and innovation and hope to be working at the forefront of sustainable fashion.
See more of Charly’s work on her media platforms:
- https://www.instagram.com/charly_thorn_designs/
- https://www.facebook.com/charly.thorn.designer/
- https://www.charlythorn.com
Purchase your tickets for Fashfest 2017 here: http://fashfest.com.au
Love Sam Xx
