Sheep To Chic - A Young Designer Thinks Big With Old, Bold Ideas

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday April 16, 2005

Patty Huntington

Move over Jodhi Packer.

Nearly two centuries after the Maple-Brown squattocracy settled in Goulburn, one of the first families of Australian wool is breaking into the rag trade.

Although Catherine Maple-Brown, 28, has yet to land a single client, that could change on May 6, when her label, maplebrown, debuts as part of a Fashion Week group parade sponsored by East Sydney TAFE's Fashion Design Studio.

One of five graduates of the TAFE's advanced diploma in fashion design last year, she says her late grandmother, Delores McClelland, a Perth society beauty in her day, is her muse.

The designer's Chippendale studio is decorated with vintage garments from her "Narni's" wardrobe and she has also developed fabric using some of her grandmother's old wallpaper.

Maple-Brown describes her look as "luxe sportswear".

"I just want to make beautiful clothes which are interesting and tailored and classic," she said.

Chosen from 32 graduates for the show, she is thinking of developing some Springfield wool for her coming winter range.

"Her graduation range just blew me away," said TAFE's head of design, Nicholas Huxley.

© 2005 Sydney Morning Herald

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