HE’S had a goal to be a fashion designer since the age of four, and now Brisbane teenager Connor O’Grady is making his mark in the fashion world, winning the supreme award at this year’s Australian Wool Fashion Awards.
The Brisbane Grammar School year 10 student took out the under the sea-themed secondary school section before being announced the overall winner, but he was expecting the accolades.
The 15-year-old was a first-time entrant in the wool awards.
“All of the works were really amazing and very well put together, and for me it was more of a look-see, so I wasn’t expecting to win,” Connor said.
The winning design was a black dress and jacket with Connor handpainting coral and fish onto the Merino wool fabric.
His mother Lindy and vet nurse, and Allen, a vet, let Connor start sewing lessons with one of their clients at the age of eight.
“Most children want to be a fireman or a policeman and you take it with a grain of salt, but he’s never wavered from wanting to be a fashion designer,” Mrs O’Grady said.
“When he was about seven he came to us and said he wanted sewing lessons, but his dad, being a typical Australian male, said ‘no son of mine is going to be sewing or making frocks’, but now he’s proud and very much on board.”
After a failed attempt at playing soccer, Connor made designing his hobby.
He has also continued painting lessons with his primary school art teacher.
Connor’s design focus is tailored pieces which fit well and feel good.
“I like designing for women because there are a lot more opportunities, and you can be a bit creative with womenswear. I like to use all sorts of fabrics, but I really like working with the natural fibres like wool, because they’re easy to work with and have a lot of body to them.
Connor has a few designers he looks up to and has even worked with some of the country’s top designers, including Sasha Drake.
“I really like Zac Posen for his structured gowns and Karl Lagerfield with what he does for Chanel, as well as Ralph and Russo for the work they do to get amazing fabric,” he said.
“I would like to study at Central Saint Martins in London and hopefully get some experience with fashion designers and fashion houses, getting to know the business a bit more, then work towards having my own line, business and brand.”
While his parents are making sure he’s not growing up too quickly, he’s entering as many fashion competitions as he can. Connor is a three-time grand champion of the fashion show at the Royal Queensland Show – he’ll judge the competition this year – and is currently working on a piece for a Melbourne competition.
In his spare time, he creates turbans for women being treated for breast cancer at the Wesley Hospital Choices Cancer Support Centre.
“They’re made from Merino wool, so they’re really soft and airy. When woman goes through breast cancer, their senses can be heightened, so they don’t want something that’s itchy and wool is the perfect fabric for it.”