Star Potgieter

Name: Star Potgieter

What secondary school did you attend? Edgewater College

When did you do Workchoice Day and where did you go?
I went to the NZ Institute of Fashion Technology in 2007.

What are you doing now?
I am part way through a Diploma in Fashion Technology at the NZ Institute of Fashion Technology.  I am currently working on pattern making and pattern grading. This is the process from developing a design on paper, to a final made-up garment. 

A typical day for me is busy, fun, full of team work and learning new skills which extend my existing knowledge.

Did you have any idea what you wanted to do for a career?
I did textiles at school which led me directly to wanting a career in fashion.  I am a hands-on learner, so studying at Fashion Tech suits my learning style and is a fun environment to learn in. I liked the idea of how the programmes are broken up into stages, not a mix of too many skills to learn at once. It is a learn and master environment, which means that once you have completely mastered a skill, you can then progress on to the next programme.

What do you enjoy about your course most of all?
What I enjoy most is the learning environment and extensive resources available to me. Having access to helpful friendly and knowledgeable tutors is great, and being able to bounce off other students is a great way to learn and develop your ideas.

What are the mundane aspects of your course?
Nothing is mundane as it is all necessary to progress my learning in this industry.

Advice for people wanting to get into your industry?
Come to Fashion Tech! Be prepared to make a commitment and have positive thinking. Be aware that you may have to start at the bottom and work your way up, which Fashion Tech helps you to do. 
What sort of job could you expect to get after completing your course?
New Zealand Fashion Tech programmes have a work experience component, which helps to determine which area of the fashion industry you would like to be in and Fashion Tech helps to build your skills for that area of choice. 

Anything else you want to add...
To be successful in this industry being committed and having the passion to come to class everyday and apply yourself is vital.