Now she’s eyeing a career in the fashion industry after the dress she created as part of her VCE textiles studies won her several awards and was accepted in to the prestigious Top Designs 2018 exhibition at Melbourne Museum.

Just 79 works were selected from almost 1180 submissions spanning the full spectrum of design practice studied as VCE and VET subjects.

The dress took Holly about 100 hours to make out of wool, jute and cotton that she formed in to cords then dyed using bark from a gum tree in an eco-dying process.

“I wanted to do something that could be amazing but still economical and something that promoted sustainability,” the year 12 student said.

“We looked at the sustainability of textiles in our class, and I wanted to promote it especially through Australian values.”

Holly’s dress is featured in the exhibition beside other creations in Product Design & Technology Textiles category.

“Awareness of global sustainability practices are critical to delivering a sense of hope for the future. This garment was influenced by this sentiment as well as the designs of Katsura Takasuka. Eco-dyeing and machine cording processes produced the subtle tones and textural qualities within the garment,” she wrote.

Holly picked up an award at the Top Design exhibition for sustainable practice, and last year the dress won awards at the Apex Fashion Award and Australian Fashion Awards.

“It’s so exciting having seen the dress in my living room to then see it in Melbourne Museum,” Holly said.

Until her textile success, Holly had not considered a career in fashion.

“I wasn’t ever intending to keep going with fashion, but I decided after I made it that maybe it’s something I should keep doing. I don’t know where I want to go with it, but I’d love to do a Bachelor of Fashion at RMIT next year.”

Top Designs 2018 is on display at Melbourne Museum until July 15.