Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/94641
sheila I fashion NIKOLINA ERGIC & DANIEL ROMANIN One Fell Swoop What is your background? We both studied at the Western Australian School of Art and Design, graduating from a three-year course. Within that time, we both worked and did work experience for other labels. How did you end up where you are today? Team work and mutual love and respect. What plans do you have for the future? We are focusing on making our Eastern States presence stronger. We are with agents to boost PR and representation nationally. What, to date, has been your biggest failure? Nothing is ever a failure. There have however been times where we have made decisions and they haven't resulted in the outcomes we expected or wanted. But from having these hiccups we learn and grow stronger in our skills and determination to get things done right. What, to date, has been your biggest success? Producing a collection each season is a success for us each time. With deadlines and restrictions always impacting on us. We are always relieved and proud of the end result of each collection. On a personal side, being nominated and winning the W.A. innovative designer of the year award gave us an amazing sense of validation and encouragement. Knowing that the industry is behind us and recognises our contribution and efforts is a powerful motivator. What items/experiences have inspired you? We have a collection of art pieces done by local artists and friends hanging in our studio. It is amazing to come to our studio each day and be surrounded by the works of our contemporary's and friends. Each piece represents another creative's thoughts. An experience that has very much inspired us has been the collaboration with the we make. It's really inspiring to work on another result is always beautiful and incredibly helpful in designing with the anticipation of this in mind. your current collection/work? Probably the recent work we acquired from local artist Tané Andrews. He has deigned a pattern, which is an abstracted form from an insect's wing. He has manipulated the scale and laser cut it on to a beautiful paper stock. The piece has been framed in such a manner that the light moves in through the empty spaces casting shadow and impressions onto he walls around it. Why do you think people have responded so well to your work? Our draping technique is one that separates us from other designers. A lot of the techniques are unconventional allowing us to create silhouettes that work with and complement the body, not just covering it. What advice would you give to someone trying to break into your industry? Belief in your work and hard time will always pay off. If you don't take short cuts and you are honest in your creativity you can never fail. 32 SHEILA SPRING 2012