Features
The business of fashion
Commerce seems a world apart from high-end fashion. But renowned Australian designer Kit "Willow" Podgornik (BCom 2000) has discovered that a little business knowledge goes a long way.
After graduating in 2000, Ms Podgornik rose to stardom after debuting her first collection at Australian Fashion Week in 2003. She soon moved to Sydney and opened her first Willow store.
"When I first showed my collection I remember thinking, 'Oh my god, they really like it'. That felt really good. I thought, 'this is going to work!'. That was one of the biggest highs of my career," Ms Podgornik said.
Today, her elegant, billowing designs are stocked in major boutiques and department stores in 80 countries. Willow pieces have been worn by stars including Nicole Kidman, Cameron Diaz, Kate Bosworth and Cate Blanchett. She opened her second Australian store earlier this year in Hawksburn, Melbourne.
Willow's Australian stores are a unique shopping experience. They double as gallery spaces, featuring works by local artists including paintings, photography and even sculptures.
Ms Podgornik majored in marketing and psychology at Monash. Both subjects came in handy when she first established Willow.
"Having marketing knowledge was important in the beginning; just knowing why a certain product is unique and why it stands out. I also understand how to read a balance sheet pretty well, which helps!"
Ms Podgornik acknowledges that good business acumen is essential for starting up a new business but she prefers the creative aspects of her work.
"What I love most about my job is creating pieces that lift people's spirits and make them feel good. My role is very diverse. I skip from fittings to a board meeting, to PR and marketing, to a photo shoot, back to a fitting, to designing, to drawing, to a fashion show."
In light of her success, Ms Podgornik's goals are straightforward: "To balance my family with work [she has a two-year old daughter, Missia], to have great people around, and to enjoy the process as much as possible along the way
Literary life
Monash alumna Sophie Cunningham (BA(Hons) 1989) never planned to be an editor. In fact, she didn't know the role existed when she joined the publishing industry more than 20 years ago.
From an early age, Ms Cunningham's ambition was to be a writer but she fell into editing. She has since become a respected professional and was last year appointed editor of Australia's second oldest literary journal Meanjin.
Over the course of her career, Ms Cunningham has worked as an editor and publisher at firms including McPhee Gribble, Penguin and Allen and Unwin. She has edited works by Australian authors including Helen Garner, Tim Winton and Martin Flanagan.
Ms Cunningham believes a good editor must have people skills, be tough, and avoid being too egotistical.
"You need to have a clear sense of what the author's responsibilities are and what your responsibilities are: to learn the difference between your opinion and what is right," she said.
In 2001, Ms Cunningham took a break to write her first two novels, Geography (shortlisted for a Commonwealth Writers' Prize) and Bird, published in 2004 and 2008 respectively.
Since she has been at Meanjin, Ms Cunningham has made improvements to the journal, pitching it to a wider and younger audience.
"I want each edition to feel like a really good dinner party conversation, with lots of different subjects," she said.
To share your news, career changes or achievements with fellow alumni, contact Alumni Relations at monashalumni@adm.monash.edu.au.