FDS Team

Andrea Cainero

Head of School

Andrea is a passionate creative with a career that began in 1996, spanning almost three decades across fashion, costume and millinery.

After completing qualifications in both Apparel Manufacturing and Fashion Design at East Sydney Technical College, and working with brands like Velani, Lisa Ho and Collette Dinningan, Andrea launched her self-titled label in 2005 at Australian Fashion Week and was a part of FDS incubator project The Graduate Store, situated in Sydney’s iconic Strand Arcade, alongside other alumni such as Karla Spetic and Michael Losordo.

In 2008 she made the move into costume design and styling, creating costumes for and styling Australian music artists including Sneaky Sound System, Hilltop Hoods, Kisschasey, Gosling, Lisa Mitchell and The Living End.

She is most well known for her work with flamboyant electro pop duo Empire of the Sun, whom she collaborated with on designing and making costumes for music videos, live performances and tours across their first two albums “Walking on a Dream” and “Alive”.

Andrea has since gone on to complete Post Grad studies in Cross Disciplinary Art and Design at the University of NSW and has carved her way into a new industry as an award-winning milliner launching her headwear and accessory brand Somewhere Here in 2020, winning the Melbourne International Millinery Competition that same year, the Millinery Association of Australia’s annual Design Award in 2023 and third place at the Lillian Frank AM MBE Millinery Award at the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Andrea has been a part of the FDS team since 2006 and values the transformative power of creative education on the individual. She has an eye for detail and a sensitivity toward shape and texture, embracing the artisan approach to fashion and bringing a flexibility in design solutions to her classes, believing in the collaborative approach to design in various disciplines and the value of vocational education.

Laura Washington

Head of School

After obtaining her degree in Physiotherapy and working as a sports physiotherapist for five years, Laura had a career switch and commenced studying  Fashion Design at East Sydney Technical College.

Laura has  had a diverse career, working in both the fashion and interior industries as a fashion designer, design consultant, costume standby, costume buyer, and fashion and interior stylist. For many years Laura  supported LGA's in both the Northern Beaches and Central Coast with op shop tours and education around conscious buying, recycling and mending. In 2013, she started her own interior styling and staging company and also began lecturing at The Fashion Design Studio.

She is currently pursuing her Masters in Cross-Disciplinary Design,  as well as her own creative textile practise focused on sustainable practice, and her passion for education motivates Laura  to provide the best platform for young designers. Laura's desire is to  share her expertise in innovative and conceptual design solutions, whilst having an umbrella of sustainability at front of mind.

She is currently on the executive committee for The Foundation of Fashion Technology Institutions ( IFFTI), and the global sharing of educational resources and information supports her work.

Laura is also on the educators working group committee, and research committee for the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Fashion and Textiles which is a partnership between TAFE NSW and UTS. Laura co-wrote and co-delivered the first course for the Centre, 'Intro to Fashion Sustainability".

Laura  firmly believes education empowers and helps individuals grow, and  advocates for both VET and Higher Education learning models. 

Alex Zehntner

Design

Alex is a senior design lecturer with professional experience in fashion design, branding and event management. Completing fashion and design study at the East Sydney Technical College and the College of Fine Arts, at the University of NSW.

Alex has extensive experience working with leading Australian fashion companies such as Tarocash, Myers, David Jones and Sportsgirl.  A move toward branding has allowed him to work with some of Australia's most dynamic production companies and all the major Australian Networks (7, 9, 10, ABC & SBS). He has Art Directed television shows since 2005, including Australian Princess, Beauty and the Geek and Australia's Next Top Model.

Alex has mentored and nurtured the talent of some of Australia’s top up and coming designers including Dion Lee, Karla Spetic, and Michael Lo Sordo

Narelle Jordan

Textile Design

Narelle is a design, colour and textiles lecturer and subject area lead for the textile studio elective stream in the Bachelor of Fashion Design. After graduating with an honours degree in Fashion & Textile Design from UTS, Narelle created meticulously crafted prints and knitwear for a custom market. With a passion for research, Narelle attained postgraduate qualifications from WSU and the Textiles Workshop at the Australian National University, where she undertook extensive investigation into specialised screen-printing processes for fashion fabrics.

Narelle is currently researching non-toxic or alternative print making techniques and natural dye processes using both commercial food and floristry waste. Her goal is to implement this into her teaching practice, shifting the FDS Textile studio toward a more sustainable output and a reduction in textile waste.

With over twenty years of teaching experience, Narelle offers students a broad range of technical skills whilst fostering the value of experimentation to achieve innovation in fashion textiles and surface design. 

Raquel Mazzina

Illustration & Fashion Design

Raquel teaches illustration and design and is a specialist teacher in life drawing. Raquel graduated from East Sydney Technical College and worked as a fashion designer prior to furthering her education in the field of Fine Arts, studying at The National Art School, Darlinghurst (Bachelor of Fine Arts 1999).

Raquel is an active practicing artist whose work is housed in private collections both nationally and internationally and exhibited across Australia.   She has received numerous awards for her work including the National Art School Paris residency.   

She has taught over the past 2 decades in the fields of Fashion Design and Fine arts in the areas of design, drawing and painting at The Fashion Design Studio, Enmore Design Centre, St. George (Sydney Institute TAFE) and The National Art School

Ameli TAnchitsa

Digital Design Communication & Illustration

Ameli was a co-founder of MAD CORTES, a multi-award winning Australian Fashion Label 2000-2008.  He joined the FDS team in 2008. Having training in both Visual Arts and Computer Graphics, Ameli explores the space where technical precision meets creative visualisation and where two fields complement each other in context of fashion design process. 

linkedin.com/in/amelitanchitsa

Kam Wong

Technical Assistant

As Technical Assistant – Design Kam liaises with teaching staff to organise & prepare all the equipment & materials needed for class practical work according to the course requirements.  He oversees the sewing, cutting and pressing equipment to ensure it’s availability to students, and he has established and maintains the procedures for the safe use of the equipment. Kam assists in the coordination and running of the major events at FDS, and investigates the uses of new equipment and the handling of innovative fabrics and accessories.

Tracey Willis

CLO3D Design and Pattern Cutting

Tracey’s Journey in the Australian Fashion Industry began with graduating from East Sydney Technical college in 1982. During her comprehensive 40-year career, she has collaborated with some of Australia’s most admired design houses, including Carla Zampatti, Zimmerman, Camilla, and Alex Perry. She has created many notable pieces for runway, red carpet, and stage – both in Australia and abroad. 

She has dressed many well-known figures in her career, notably, Bianca Jagger, Miranda Kerr, J Lo and Beyonce.  

Tracey is a Master Patternmaker with hands-on, practical experience in the Australian Industry. She has worked with all dimensions of the pattern craft; flat manual, draping, digital and now 3D. She has worked in and managed Design Rooms in Australia, India, and Vietnam. She has had the opportunity to teach internationally within various factories, design houses and sample rooms.  

Mentoring students with her detailed skill set is displayed clearly in her teaching. She values the collaboration between student and teacher and applauds their successes, both big and small. 

In recent years, she has successfully incorporated her master craft and design expertise into the field of 3D Technology. This technology is redefining the way Design Development is approached within the industry.  The 3D process allows you to visualise the work in real time with detail and accuracy, thus not making multiple unsustainable prototypes of Designs. The collaboration between 3D technology and Tracey’s skill set is the perfect combination.  

Millicent Gilbert

Design

Millicent has amassed extensive experience across all facets of the fashion industry throughout her career. With expertise in fashion design, accessories, graphics, marketing, and retail, she has contributed to renowned brands showcased at New York Fashion Week (NYFW), developed product lines for both fashion start-ups and major retail chains, and designed corporate uniforms, culminating in the launch of her own brand. 

In addition to overseeing the full scope of design, production, and supply chain management, Millicent played a key role in expanding her brand internationally, with successful entries into the U.S. and European markets and showcases at Pure London and Prêt-à-Porter Paris. 

Holding a Master of Design from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Millicent is a firm believer in the transformative power of education. She is dedicated to empowering students to achieve success in their respective disciplines, and takes great pride in sharing her wealth of knowledge and experience to guide the next generation of Australia’s leading fashion designers.