Last week I began a new semester at LCI Melbourne, diving headfirst into my third major: Fashion & Costume Design. This feels like more than just another stage of study – it’s a chance to bring together everything I’ve lived, everything I’ve learned, & everything I still want to create.
Hero Garment: Three Concepts, One Foundation
I started with three concepts for my hero garment; each rooted in my lived experience. From there, I’ve branched out into research that spans solo travel, the environmental impacts on the ocean, & the ongoing transformation journey of those in recovery from mental health & addiction challenges. These threads are deeply personal, but also universal – reflecting resilience, change, & the beauty of becoming.
To feed this process, I’ve been gathering resources from everywhere: books, online archives, & even from my own childhood collections. Leafing through old photos & swap cards has brought back the tactile joy of discovery, the same spark that drove me to make & imagine as a kid.
From Sketch to Stitch
I didn’t waste time easing in. I’ve already begun work on my first assessment: a tailored jacket & trousers. Pattern-making has taken shape on my table, silhouettes have filled my sketchbook, & fabric has come alive as I experiment with draping. I’ve been testing ideas through sewing & handcrafting, rediscovering the satisfaction of making with my hands.
There’s something thrilling about this stage of the process – when ideas stop living only in my head & start taking form in fabric.
Looking Ahead
As much as I’m immersed in the present, I’m also looking to the future. I’m preparing to study at LCI Barcelona in the new year, taking this journey onto an international stage. I’m completing my visa application & will book my consulate interview – small but important steps toward the bigger picture.
This next chapter excites me because it’s not just about clothes. It’s about building a practice that reflects lived experience, sustainability, & transformation, stitched into garments that speak for themselves.
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Larissa Sarina BAGLIERI 
