Lucy Broomhall grew up in Paynesville. She was a student at Paynesville Primary before heading to Nagle College, where, she admits, she “did not excel”.

But she’s certainly excelling now as she makes a name for herself in the big wide world of haute couture fashion.

A student at The Masters Institute of Creative Education in Melbourne for the past three years, Lucy will graduate on December 10 with an advanced diploma of fashion, design and merchandising.

During the course of her studies her creativity has blossomed and has caught the eyes of some of the most critical in the industry.

“The Masters Institute is different to your other fashion courses,” Lucy said.

“It’s very focused on couture and that’s what I love.”

Lucy says she’s always loved sewing. “I’ve always sewn since I was girl,” she said. “I remember way back cutting material for a vest from the very middle of a piece of Mum’s fabric. It’s almost a right of passage to do something like that. She would have been horrified, but I did it,” she laughed.

Lucy left Paynesville when she turned 18, headed for Melbourne. She worked in costume hire businesses there and in Sydney, putting her sewing skills to good use creating the costumes.

Her young family began to grow when at the age of 20 the first of her three boys was born and saw much of her time dedicated to “being a mum”.

“Then three years ago I decided to go back to school and make a career out of my sewing,” she said.

As part of her final assessments, Lucy created her collection, Deadair, working under the name Marda. “In your final year the teachers really push,”

Lucy said. “Their focus is on avant-garde (experimental, radical and unorthodox) and it really provides the opportunity to go out with a bang.

“You don’t get many chances later to really go for it, so we go all out with our collections.”

Lucy’s Deadair was showcased at Melbourne Fashion Week in September and saw her among the top five students whose collections demonstrated excellence in research and development of fashion design, innovation, construction and potential to contribute to the future growth of the industry.

Up against strong talent, Lucy was announced runner up for the emerging designer award.

She describes Deadair as her “look at the women’s movement and how women have been oppressed throughout history, contrasted by what I see women to be”.

Feathers are a feature of the collection’s pieces.

“I drew inspiration from birds, as they represent freedom,” Lucy said.

Inspiration was also drawn from mushrooms, “for the layers and conditions they grow in”, and metal, “for all the forms it can take and yet still remain strong and undestroyed, regardless of its treatment”.

“I used different silks and tulles and layered them and created my feathers,” Lucy said.

“I also used a faux leather to mould over structure in each outfit and the toiling process to refine the garments and design and create the perfect piece.”

Fashion designer, Lucy Broomhall, grew up in Paynesville and is now taking her couture fashion talents to the world. PICTURED: Lucy makes adjustments to one of her Deadair collection pieces, worn by model, Liv Rian, in preparation for 2018 Melbourne Fashion Week held in September. The ensemble caught the eye of stylist for singer-song writer, Montaigne, who wore it to the ARIA Music Awards on November 28. Photo: Scott Davis