Published Sunday, 24 December, 2006 at 12:30 PM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
SMART STATE FASHION STUDENT WINS CARLA ZAMPATTI SCHOLARSHIP
A rising young Smart State fashion star has been offered the chance of a lifetime to hone their skills with one of Australia’s leading fashion designers, Carla Zampatti.
State Development Minister and Member for Logan John Mickel today congratulated Mark Valenton for being awarded the six-month ‘Minister’s Student Development Scholarship’ with Ms Zampatti’s international design team in Sydney.
Mark Valenton, originally from Boronia Heights, recently graduated with a Diploma of Textiles, Clothing and Footwear from the Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE.
The ‘Minister’s Student Development Scholarship’ gives Mark six months to gain work experience in the design, manufacture, wholesale, retail and export of fashion.
Mark was the recent winner of the Student Design Award, presented as part of the 2006 National Retail Association’s (NRA) Australian Fashion Design Awards at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Carla Zampatti was a judge as well as an ambassador for the awards.
The Queensland Government provided sponsorship for the NRA event which included two awards – the Queensland Government’s Innovation and Rising Star Awards.
As an award winner, Mark has also been awarded a place in a Queensland Government business mentoring program.
Mr Mickel said the Queensland Government was helping students, designers and manufacturers develop their creative and entrepreneurial skills through initiatives like the fashion awards and scholarships.
“Bright young stars like Mark are shaping Queensland’s fashion future,” Mr Mickel said.
“Mark is a unique and up and coming talent due to his attention to detail, the finish of his designs and his superb craftsmanship.
“He is the whole package when it comes to recognising requirements for his work to be of the highest quality right from the choice of fabric to the final presentation of his designs and his winning garments reflect this.
“’The Minister’s Student Development Scholarship’ is about opening up doors and giving Queensland fashion talent the opportunity and skills development they need to make it in the competitive industry.”
Mark also won the Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE’s Italian scholarship, ModaItalia 2006, which is an intensive two-week program held at the Polimoda Institute of Fashion in Florence. He will head to Italy later in 2007 after he completes his work experience with Carla Zampatti.
Mark said he was thrilled to be awarded the the ‘Minister’s Student Development Scholarship’.
“It is one of the biggest things that I’ve won,” he said.
“The work experience that Carla has offered is such a great opportunity to open myself up and become known in the industry.
“It’s reassuring and encouraging to get the thumbs up from the designers who’ve achieved longevity within their careers.”
__________________________________
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
National Retail Association (NRA) Director - Donna Caley 0401 482 297.
Mark Valenton: 0432 062 109
State Development Minister and Member for Logan John Mickel today congratulated Mark Valenton for being awarded the six-month ‘Minister’s Student Development Scholarship’ with Ms Zampatti’s international design team in Sydney.
Mark Valenton, originally from Boronia Heights, recently graduated with a Diploma of Textiles, Clothing and Footwear from the Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE.
The ‘Minister’s Student Development Scholarship’ gives Mark six months to gain work experience in the design, manufacture, wholesale, retail and export of fashion.
Mark was the recent winner of the Student Design Award, presented as part of the 2006 National Retail Association’s (NRA) Australian Fashion Design Awards at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Carla Zampatti was a judge as well as an ambassador for the awards.
The Queensland Government provided sponsorship for the NRA event which included two awards – the Queensland Government’s Innovation and Rising Star Awards.
As an award winner, Mark has also been awarded a place in a Queensland Government business mentoring program.
Mr Mickel said the Queensland Government was helping students, designers and manufacturers develop their creative and entrepreneurial skills through initiatives like the fashion awards and scholarships.
“Bright young stars like Mark are shaping Queensland’s fashion future,” Mr Mickel said.
“Mark is a unique and up and coming talent due to his attention to detail, the finish of his designs and his superb craftsmanship.
“He is the whole package when it comes to recognising requirements for his work to be of the highest quality right from the choice of fabric to the final presentation of his designs and his winning garments reflect this.
“’The Minister’s Student Development Scholarship’ is about opening up doors and giving Queensland fashion talent the opportunity and skills development they need to make it in the competitive industry.”
Mark also won the Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE’s Italian scholarship, ModaItalia 2006, which is an intensive two-week program held at the Polimoda Institute of Fashion in Florence. He will head to Italy later in 2007 after he completes his work experience with Carla Zampatti.
Mark said he was thrilled to be awarded the the ‘Minister’s Student Development Scholarship’.
“It is one of the biggest things that I’ve won,” he said.
“The work experience that Carla has offered is such a great opportunity to open myself up and become known in the industry.
“It’s reassuring and encouraging to get the thumbs up from the designers who’ve achieved longevity within their careers.”
__________________________________
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
National Retail Association (NRA) Director - Donna Caley 0401 482 297.
Mark Valenton: 0432 062 109