With one of the South Island's most celebrated fashion awards already under her belt, CPIT's Robyn Webb is set to take New Zealand's fashion industry by storm.
With one of the South Island's most celebrated fashion awards already under her belt, CPIT's Robyn Webb is set to take New Zealand's fashion industry by storm.
Although still quietly buzzing from the excitement surrounding her success at the Peugeot Hokonui Fashion Design Awards, at which she won gold, Robyn is now focusing on another important event, her graduation, when she will emerge as one of CPIT's most promising designers, an achievement that three years ago, could not have been further from her career goals.
Unlike most fashion design students, Robyn's career ambitions didn't always involve needle and thread. In fact, the talented designer began her tertiary education at University where law and art theory consumed most of her time. While she did find her university studies interesting, over time Robyn became increasingly despondent with her study and found herself questioning her career choices. When the reality of her situation hit home, her mind became clear. She wanted a life where her study complemented her socially; where conversations held amongst friends were enjoyed by all and not subdued by talk of statutes or case studies. "I found that law, in particular, was really isolating for me. It didn't fit my lifestyle or circle of friends. It just wasn't me," she says. Robyn's decision to embark on a new life path sparked the turning point of her future career aspirations and ultimately, her success. Robyn's interest in the concept of style, although not originally considered as a career choice, blossomed in her teens. She would spend hours rummaging through the racks of opportunity shops and second-hand stores, amusing herself by picking out disastrous '80s faux-pas, questioning their 'raison d'être' along the way. By the time Robyn had reached her twenties, she had become increasingly intrigued by the technical processes surrounding directional phases of fashion and garment design. Essentially for Robyn, the idea of fashion suddenly had a more profound meaning. Add to this, her ongoing disappointment with the range of fashions available in the retail industry and Robyn's contemplation of studying fashion design at CPIT quickly became a reality. Today, with the ongoing support from her tutors, Robyn's perception of style and how it is interpreted through design continues to evolve. "I haven't stopped learning since I came to CPIT. The tutors at the fashion school have been awesome. They give you a real practical insight into fashion design," she says. While her ability to illustrate the relationship between natural textures, exquisite garment design and quality manufacture has proved a winning combination, Robyn prefers to attribute her skill to an interest in form and function and how her particular designs are perceived by others. "I'm inspired by textures and I'm a prolific sketcher. I like to give my designs attitude so the wearer looks and feels tough, protected or cheeky. I do this by emphasising particular parts of the body, such as the shoulders, head or neck," she says. To complement the edgy component of her designs, Robyn also prefers to work with neutral tones of cream, beige and black, using texture rather than vibrant colour to create interest. "I'm very sensitive to colour. I take it very seriously. Colour for me is like olives or capers, you love them but you don't use a lot of them." After graduation, Robyn plans to stay in New Zealand and foster her career by working as a pattern maker or designer for a local company whose philosophy mirrors the design values and ideas she has developed as a student at CPIT. "I feel like I've been given this huge opportunity at CPIT, and I want to continue to be nurtured in the industry. So at this stage, I'm not big on putting my own name out there, I want to work and learn from someone else. All I know is that when I graduate from CPIT, I will be able to create anything I can think of - I've learnt so much here."