I have crossed paths with talented Melbournian designer Eva Q a few times and have always been a fan of her decorative textiles and the sculptural elements in her designs. A graduate from Melbourne’s RMIT University, Eva won the NRA Australian Fashion Design Awards in 2009 and has also studied and worked in Paris. She was gracious enough to have an interview with me for my blog. Here she gives us a sneak peak into her latest AW11 collection and talks to us about Barbie dolls, Elie Saab and Audrey Tatou.

Eva, what inspired you to be a fashion designer?

I loved dressing up as a child. Even if I was going to the milk bar I would try on everything in my closet until I was satisfied with my coordinated outfit! I didn’t know that fashion design could be a potential career path for me until my mum started sewing samples for fashion designers like Alannah Hill. The fabrics, colours and designs were beautiful and mum gave me the left over fabric scraps to make clothes for my Barbie dolls. I guess it all started there. After that I started reading fashion magazines, sketching designs and slowly taught myself to cut and sew.

You won a scholarship to study in Paris, tell us what that like? What was the highlight?

Paris was incredible, the city is so beautiful and rich in inspiration, I loved every second of it. Our sewing lessons were taught by old school couturiers who were extremely strict. We learnt hat making from Jean Pierre Trizt who is Jean Paul Gaultier’s hat maker and our marketing and industry lecturer works for companies like Dior and YSL. It was information overload, probably the most intense time of my life. We were living in Paris but had to do homework on the weekends!
The highlight of my trip was meeting and working backstage at Elie Saab’s Haute Couture show, the experience made me want to make beautiful dresses every day of my life.

Where are your garments made?

All the garments are made by me in my studio. The label is still quite new so at the moment I can manage it on my own. I have some help from pattern makers and occasionally have some work experience students here to help me out with little things here and there.

What was your inspiration for your new collection?

The Winter colletion entitled ‘Solitude Concealed’ is inspired by a beautiful but mysterious woman who is afraid to break out from her lonely life. I used a lot of calming colours and kept the colour pallete quite subtle, with just the smallest highlight of silver.

What sort of lady do you design for?

Smart, sophisticated, feminine, and being beautiful without having to try too hard..women who invest in beautiful garments.

Who would you love to dress?

Audrey Tatou, I love her style. Chic, classy, feminine… gorgeous!

Who are your favourite designers?

Mademoiselle Chanel, Elie Saab, the Rodate girls, Sandra Backlund, I have so many favourite but they would be at the top of the list.

Thank you so much Eva for your time. I adore your designs, the last dress is my absolute favourite, I love how the lace overlay adds more femininity and mystery to this stunning frock. I would love to wear it to an event :)

If you like Eva Q’s designs, contact eva@evaqdesign.com for sale enquiries.