Name: Henna Meltzer

Job Title: Designer

Meet Henna, a divine 16 year old with a bright future in fashion... It's funny you know,  we have so many budding fashionista's who say they want to be a designer,  and they just don't have it...  yes bless them...  and then there are designers like Henna Meltzer.  

Henna is about to do her VCE in Melbourne but just see why Ragtradejobs.com has a crush on this fashion delight. Ragtradejobs.com is loving Henna,  be inspired fashionsta's...

Where do you draw yourinspiration from?

I draw a lot of inspiration from the designer Alannah Hill - I love her eccentric designs. Every life experience impacts on my designs...Chocolate, love, birds, peace, nature, religion, my big family, feminity and my art teacher, Mrs Denton.

How did you start out?

I was shopping with a friend and she was about to buy a beautiful clip for her hair. It was so expensive, I looked at it and told her that I could try and make one exactly the way she wanted for free. Later down the track, I came across this tiny shop packed with everything: feathers, trimmings, buttons, beads, and materials. I nearly fell over with excitement when I walked in. I spent the next 3 hours in the shop until they had to throw me out as they were closing! I spent all the spare time I had making hair accessories. The first thing I did was give one to the friend I'd promised. Initially, I didn't intend to sell them but before I knew it I'd ended up with a great first collection called "Feather and Bow" and had sold it to a couple of local boutiques.

Are you planning on furthering your education after school and if so what courses are you wanting to take?

I definitely plan to continue in the fashion field. In 2009, I started off in the design class in school but two lessons in I was dying! I'm not the best at fine line drawing - I found it extremely difficult. I hated the fact that I had to draw with a ruler. I wasn't expressing myself and that was why I couldn't bear being there. I immediately swapped to the art class. I was thinking of doing the fashion design course at RMIT once I finished school but after my experience in the rigid design class and some advice from professionals, I don't know if a fashion design course would actually be the right thing for me. I'd rather get a business degree, to provide me with the ‘know how' I need to run my own business one day. I plan to learn about design through hands on experience working with a milliner.

Where do you see yourself in five years down the track?

I plan to spend the next couple of years concentrating on school and touring a bit. I would like to keep my hairpieces as a small hobby in my spare time. On finishing school I would like to go on to university and study business so that I can eventually run my own company, selling my pieces worldwide.

What do you love about designing?

I love the way that I'm able to go crazy with my creations or keep themas plain and conservative as I like, depending on how I'm feeling. There are no boundaries and no wrong or right, because they are my own.

How do you manage school and work?

Designing and making my pieces is very time consuming so it does sometimes get a little tricky balancing it with school. I have lots of other interests as well, like ballet, singing and piano. Those lessons take up most of my time when I'm not at school. The small amount of spare time I have is spent in my workshop making hairpieces.

Best advice you've received?

My dad once told me to spend your time doing things which you are passionate about and which you love. If things don't go as planned, don't be upset or get disappointed. The best thing to do is just start again and keep on pushing and trying until you get exactly what you want. If you have a dream,follow it through, even if you feel it's not possible. You can do anything you want to if you want it enough.