CHRIS Ran Lin’s has been making his mum proud.
The Braybrook designer, 26, is one of the rising stars of Melbourne’s fashion scene, winning one of 12 spots in a parade tonight at the prestigious L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival (LMFF).
The RMIT University fashion graduate says he was inspired to step into the fashion field by his hard-working mother.
“She was a dress-maker when I was growing up back in China,” Ran Lin says.
“I was around her work from when I was really young and when we came to Australia I just decided that’s what I would do, too. It’s a pretty big deal for her to see her son follow in her footsteps.”
Since graduating last year, Ran Lin has been building a name for his bold designs, mixing different cultural elements with a modern take on traditional ideas.
“It’s individual; I’m focusing on creating designs that have their own personality.”
The National Graduate Showcase is in its fourth year and features an impressive line-up of graduate designers from around the nation.
The Docklands event is a chance for design talent to show its work under the guidance and support of industry mentors.
LMFF chief executive Graeme Lewsey says he has been “blown away” by the quality of graduates’ work.
Ran Lin says it’s important that his work is “wearable”, even as he experiments with bold new looks.
The next step after the awards is launching his own studio and label.
