Beyond the big day: This graduate bridal collection is made to last
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jordan Drysdale
AS TOLD TO DAISY HENRY
“I think the industry needs to steer towards creating clothing that lasts.”
This isn’t RMIT fashion student Anjali Tulpule‘s first time seeing her designers on the runway. It was only last year that her honours collection debuted on the Melbourne Fashion Week Student Collections Runway. Now, she’s gearing up to showcase her work again at the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival in March.
Comprising of seven looks, Anjali’s collection, Caveat Venditor, explores the intersections of Western and Indian bridalwear. “Inspired by the wedding sari, cherished by my mother and generations before her, the collection features designs made from silk fabrics, incorporating sari-inspired pleats and fastenings to allow for fit adjustments and style transformations,” she explains.
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A core principle of Anjali’s collection is longevity. “Each garment can be transformed into less formal dresses, skirts, bags and jackets thus giving the original bridal look the potential for an extended life well beyond the wedding day,” she says. This meant she had to engineer each design to become easily interchangeable, offering an alternative to one-time use.
Anjali’s collection is one of many student works that will be on display at the National Graduate Showcase x Emporium Melbourne as part of PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival on March 4. Held at the Royal Exhibition Building, the runway will feature 13 graduate designers hand-picked from Australia’s leading fashion institutions. It’s always an exciting glimpse into the future of Australian fashion and Fashion Journal is proud to be a long-time media partner of the event.
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Fashion Journal: Hi Anjali! Tell us a bit about how you got started in fashion. Did you always want to be a designer?
Anjali: I’ve always had a love for fashion and design. My mum taught me how to sew at a very young age. When I started VCE product design, my dad subscribed me to the Business of Fashion, which taught me a lot about the industry.
More than anything, I wanted to make a positive impact on the world of fashion. This desire was strengthened after working with an ethical, transparent and circular fashion brand (Arnsdorf) that advocated for sustainability.
Tell me about the collection you’re showing for the National Graduate Showcase. What was your inspiration?
My collection, Caveat Venditor, explores the intersection between the traditional Western bridal archetype and the Indian Sari, proposing a new sustainable direction for bridal wear. Caveat Venditor offers an alternative to the one-time-use wedding dress by creating looks that can be transformed by the wearer beyond the wedding date.
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Inspired by the wedding sari, cherished by my mother and generations before her, the collection features designs made from silk fabrics, incorporating sari-inspired pleats and fastenings to allow for fit adjustments and style transformations. These are enhanced by flowing embroidery that adds subtle organic dimensions and structure.
What has the process of creating your collection been like?
I produced seven foundational looks. One key learning curve was how to engineer the components of each look to make them interchangeable. This allows the collection to be pulled apart and put back together again in whatever way the wearer chooses, which is exciting to me because it contributes to the longevity and sustainability of the garments.
A major challenge was the amount of time and physical effort it took to embroider the looks. I ended up using over 20,000 metres of thread but I strongly believe the end result contributed powerfully to the story of intersection that my collection embodies.
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How would you describe your collection to someone who’s never seen it before?
Caveat Venditor is a collection of bridal wear made from richly embroidered flowing silks that celebrates the principles of circular fashion. Each garment can be transformed into less formal dresses, skirts, bags and jackets thus giving the original bridal look the potential for an extended life well beyond the wedding day.
What are you most proud of in your work so far?
I’m proud of the positive responses I have received for Caveat Venditor. I’m particularly excited by the opportunity to present my work at the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival and last year’s student runway at Melbourne Fashion Week was a highlight for me.
I’m also proud of the skills I have developed at RMIT. I’m continuing to build my practice, integrating sustainability into my designs.
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What do you wish you knew when you started on your collection?
I wish I’d known more about the effort it takes after the construction of the garments to display and promote the collection. I ended up spending a huge amount of time photographing, styling, transporting and setting up the collection for runways and presentation. While I found much of this to be very enjoyable, there was definitely some stress as deadlines approached.
Who is exciting you the most in local fashion right now?
Milly Graham, also known as Slow Fashion Milly, never fails to inspire me and so many others on how to make considered fashion choices and inform the public on fashion consumption and production issues that are not talked about enough.
One of my favourite books on fashion consumerism and fashion waste is Wear Next: Fashioning the Future by Clare Press.
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What about the local fashion industry needs to change?
I think the industry needs to steer towards creating clothing that lasts. This means following a circular model, considering rental services and selling second-hand items.
I also believe that we as consumers need to look hard at our purchasing habits. For example, this year I will follow in the steps of Tiffanie Darke’s ‘Rule of Five Campaign’, purchasing only five items of clothing and focusing only on great investment pieces.
Who are your dream collaborators?
After completing this year of study, I’ve been inspired by both designers and organisations in Australia and around the world. My dream collaborators would be Supriya Lele, Stella McCartney and Pauline Dujancourt. I would also love to work with Paloma Lanna (from Paloma Wool) and learn more about storytelling through textiles and photography.
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Where do you hope to be in the next five years?
I’m currently developing my own label, with a new bridal collection on the way. My practice will embody ‘considered elegance’ with a focus on my clients, the environment and the local economy. I’m also working on my fashion photography so I can tell the story of my work through film.
How can we see more of your work?
You can find more of my work on my Instagram or on my newly launched website! My sister Amita Tulpule, a London-based UX/UI designer with a background in graphic design created it. You can find my portfolio there and will soon be able to make purchases.
Did you have anything else to add?
I would like to thank my lecturers, Dr Peter Boyd, Mandy Nichols, Dr Laura Gardner, Dr Remie Cibis and Dr Juliana Luna Mora for guiding me throughout my 2024 honours year and for passing on their wisdom to me.
I would also like to thank and send love to my mum Chitra, my dad Vivek, my sister Amita, my partner Tom and all my beautiful friends for their constant support. I would also like to thank Fashion Journal for giving me a platform to showcase my work in writing and images, PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival and stylist Karinda Mutabazi for giving me the opportunity to present my 2024 Honours collection at this year’s National Graduate Showcase.
Get your tickets to the NGS Showcase at PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival here.
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