What do you do? My primary practice is
hand-generated print design with a focus
on bold colour and scale – always with an
end product in mind. I like the practicality
in textile design; that you’re designing
for an end purpose. When did you start?
I graduated from Textile Design at RMIT
last year, but I’ve been working in the
fashion industry across various disciplines- from designing to buying and product
development – since 2007. What’s one thing
we should know about you? My designs
skirt the fine line of fun and functional.
Every range starts with a colour palette that
is primarily trend-driven, then scaled back
to more enduring colour combinations. My
process of garment conception is similar,
with the hope that all items can be worn
for years to come. Which one tool could
you not do without? Tracing paper. I have a
habit of working and reworking my motifs
and their composition, and will quite
often hand-trace each colour separation
to encourage organic overlapping and
spacing. Greatest achievement so far?
Producing my first screenprinted collection
last year. The process from sketch to
fabric was a rollercoaster and incredibly
labour-intensive! But that feeling of seeing
my designs come to life with each screen
separation was magic. What are you
working on right now? I’m about halfway
through building my business plan for
my label Farn, while also designing and
producing my AW18 range, scheduled to
launch in May/June. What do you stand
for? I think it’s important to always ask
questions, and it’s our responsibility as
consumers to do the research and know
where and how our products are made.
I value a connection between the maker
and wearer that has been lost over time,
so is even more special today. Who has
been your best support? My partner,
Khalid. He flew to Melbourne from Sydney
every other week for an entire year before
I finally convinced him to move here!
He’s always the first to celebrate my
achievements (usually with a fat bunch of
flowers) and makes me laugh every single
day. Biggest lesson so far? That I can’t do
everything. I love being a part of every step
in the design and production process, but
as I’m looking to scale up, I had to realise
that doing everything isn’t sustainable.
What does winning a Good Stuff award
mean to you? That someone as talented
and accomplished as Jenny Kee would
judge my work as the top of the fashion
category has completely overcome any
hesitation I had and given me the drive
to make my ideas a commercial reality.
Where can we see your work?
On Instagram at @ farntextiles.
Fashion judge Jenny Kee says: This
was the most cohesive collection and
the presentation is excellent. It shows
Amanda’s talents across a range of
fashion media, and good, detailed
craftsmanship. The prints are simple and
understated, and she has subtle use of
colours that all work well together.PRESENTED BY
RAFFLES AMANDA
FARNCOMBPhoto
Bri Hammond