A look back on Whitehouse Institute of Design’s success stories
Designs by Emily Valdeck
Photography by Myles Kalus
Number one.
There are many fashion educators in Australia, but few have a reputation as prestigious as Whitehouse.
That’s not just our opinion either. Over the last 29 years, the design school has produced countless household names in the fashion industry.
Just last month, it was ranked as the number one private fashion educator in Australia by Business of Fashion. On top of that, it came in at number 27 in the global report of fashion school rankings. This means Whitehouse is bumping shoulders with institutions like Central Saint Martins, Parsons and the London College of Fashion. Not bad for an Australian start-up.
The design school is celebrating three decades of top-quality education next year, so we thought we’d take a look back on some of its biggest success stories.
Yeojin Bae of Yeojin Bae
You’d have no doubt heard this name. Yeojin Bae was the youngest student to ever grace the halls of Whitehouse at the tender age of 15. After graduating at 17, Bae became the design assistant for Marc Jacobs in New York, before being approached for Head of Womenswear at Saba. Bae then launched her own label, releasing her first collection in 2006.
Tamara Ralph of Ralph and Russo
What do Tamara Ralph, Donatella Versace, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Kym Ellery have in common? They are the only four female creative directors invited to showcase their designs at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week, and one of them studied at Whitehouse. Tamara Ralph began designing clothes for her friends when she was just 12. After graduating from Whitehouse, the designer met her business partner Mark Russo on a chance encounter in London. The label has since grown to become a multi-million dollar business, worn by celebrities like Beyoncé, Julia Roberts, Heidi Klum and Bella Hadid, to name a few.
Camilla Freeman-Topper of Camilla and Marc
Camilla Freeman-Topper launched Camilla and Marc with her brother, which has quickly grown to become one of Australia’s most reputable design houses. Camilla graduated from Whitehouse before earning a scholarship at Italy’s Accademia Italiana, an esteemed fashion school in Florence. Just this year, the label was awarded ‘Best Australian Fashion Brand’ in the Prix de Marie Claire Awards 2017.
Today, Whitehouse Institute of Design continues to deliver the premium design education that has built up its reputation over the last 30 years. Coupling hands-on experience with international industry experts, it’s no surprise Whitehouse is ranked as the number one private fashion school in Australia.
If you’re feeling inspired by some of these success stories, early intake for Whitehouse’s Bachelor of Design in 2018 is open now.
Head here to get started.
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