Julia English

Julia English has had a passion for fashion ever since she was a young girl. Sparked by a special gift, Julia’s love for sewing and design fast became a career aspiration.

What's next for Julia

From a passion for fashion to a focus on big brands, Julia is ready to challenge the way we see the sustainable design.

“I started sewing when I was eight years old and got my first sewing machine,” she said.

“My mum taught me to sew and I made some pretty crazy outfits that looked very strange. I’d ask her, ‘How do I sew this?’ and then completely ignore her and make something different.

“I think when I was a kid I felt that I could sew and wear things that were really me, and I could make things that no one else had. 

“I feel like it’s a way to express who I really am and be really personal in the way that I dress and feel quite unique.”

After highschool, Julia heard about RMIT’s School of Fashion and Textiles and it’s reputation as being the best in fashion and textiles education.

So she moved from her hometown of Adelaide to study Bachelor of Fashion (Design) (Honours) at RMIT.

“I first heard about RMIT at a store in Adelaide called Catwalk that mum and I used to visit,” she explained.

“Liz, who ran the shop, told me ‘You can’t go to Adelaide, you’ve got to go to Melbourne, to RMIT, they’re the best’. I was like, ‘OK, if you say so!’.

“When I moved from Adelaide to Melbourne it was a pretty big adjustment. I really loved Melbourne and it made me realise how small Adelaide is. Here, it’s a big, beautiful city and there’s so much going on.”

Following her passion has been a rewarding experience for Julia. In May she travelled to Denmark for the Copenhagen Fashion Summit as a youth participant and she will soon fly to Hong Kong with a collection of her designs as a finalist in the sustainability-themed Redress Design Award.

Julia sewing in RMIT Fashion and Textiles facilities
Julia at RMIT's Fashion and Textiles facilities

Sustainability in fashion is a focus for Julia and she hopes to work in this sustainability consulting. 

“With my fashion experience I think I would like to challenge the way we view sustainability,” she said.

“I’m really passionate about how the way we wear clothes should inform what sustainable design solutions we have. 

“Particularly looking at big brands that I think have a lot of power to have a huge impact on the industry. I think we need to get where we are going faster and be more sustainable sooner.”

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.