10:57a.m. 31st July 2008

| By Sam Benger

Sunshine Coast Tafe fashion design student Carly Reeve models a cocktail dress by Milanna Ingles, left. Photo: Chris McCormack/177335

One day Milanna Ingles’ designs could be gracing catwalks all over the world.

And the Sunshine Coast TAFE student is relishing the chance to learn from the best when she takes part in the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival in Brisbane.

Milanna, 21, has been selected to find out what it is like behind the scenes at the fashion show, where she will get to work closely with organisers and gain an insight into running a large-scale fashion event.

“To take part in the festival is such an honour for me, as well as a fantastic experience because when I finish my course I would love to become a fashion designer and participate in these events for a living,” she said.

“I am particularly looking forward to finding out how the designers gain their inspiration and learning how a major event like this is run.

“I’ve always been interested in fashion.

“Ever since I can remember I’ve been designing my own clothes and making things.”

Milanna is 18 months through a two-year fashion design course at Nambour TAFE and is working on a line of lingerie-inspired cocktail dresses.

“I thought, ‘If you can only wear lingerie in the bedroom, what’s the point?’ so I wanted to do something sexy and glamorous using stretch materials, lace, corsetry and boning,” she said.

“I like things that are really girly, but the designs I’m working on are skin-tight, so you have to be very brave.”

She said she loved using vibrant colours but this collection focused on black and white, gold and tiger prints.

Milanna said she was especially interested in evening wear, but hoped one day to try her hand at a range of different designs.

She hopes to travel to Europe next year and to work in a small couture fashion house in the future.

Brisbane fashion week is held from August 24-29.