During her fashion school experience at Blanche Macdonald, Melody Sekulic discovered the depth of her creative voice by meeting and mastering challenges. The growth and insight gained through sharing her work with other talented creators and mentors helped her squash self-doubt and create gorgeous, inspired looks for her final graduation collection, BREATHING UNDER WATER. In this Q&A, Melody shares the insights she gained from the Fashion Design Program that allowed her to break out of her shell, share her talent without restraint, and develop her brand Elite Outsider.
“I aspire to earn a living through design. For me, the design process feels almost magical. Having this year to fully immerse myself in creation and challenge my limits was invaluable. Creating a collection allowed me to blend and refine my aesthetic tastes.”
Q: Your designs are so unique—how did your aesthetic or creative vision evolve during your time with us? Were there any influences or breakthroughs that really guided this evolution?
Fashion design begins as a vision that exists solely in your mind. This concept then evolves into a visual form through illustration, bringing it closer to reality. Next comes the pattern drafting stage, where the idea truly comes to life. You create something tangible from that initial spark of inspiration. For me, the design process feels almost magical. Before attending school, I cherished this creative outlet but never had the chance to experience the cycle repeatedly. This repetition fuels your passion and keeps your creativity flowing. Having this year to fully immerse myself in creation and challenge my limits was invaluable.
Influence permeates my life in countless ways. My emotions, whether positive or negative, often ignite my creativity, shaped by the events unfolding around the world. Daily beauty and the power of music play significant roles in this process. One song served as the muse for the whole collection I developed at Blanche.
I’ve often struggled to define my aesthetic. While I’m clear about the styles I like and the reasons behind them, categorizing myself has always been a challenge. Creating a collection allowed me to blend and refine my aesthetic tastes. I believe that clothing should be striking and empower individuals to express their true selves. All I can wish for is that my design aesthetic resonates with other people.
Q: Looking back on your time at Blanche Macdonald, what moment or project stands out as the most transformative for you, and why?
It’s challenging to choose a single highlight. Each time I wrapped up a project I believed was the toughest, another one surfaced that tested me even further. Every project that I completed allowed me to have more confidence in my craft. I believe that the daily commitment to push myself and take responsibility was a major transformative process throughout the whole year.
“I faced numerous challenges, and my instructor encouraged me to trust the process. By the end of the course, I had developed my own unique fashion illustration style, a feat that once seemed impossible.”
Q: What was the most surprising thing you learned about yourself as a designer while studying at BMC? How did it shape your creative direction?
Throughout my time at Blanche, I learned that being vulnerable while creating is okay. I had always created in privacy and held my ideas close to myself. Being in an environment where your creative ideas are constantly shared with and seen by other talented creatives and mentors was an uncomfortable but wonderful experience for me. This process allowed me to break free of my self-doubt. Realising how personal and unique everyone in my design class was gave me confidence and allowed me to believe that if something resonates with me, it deserves to be expressed.
Q: Can you share a memory of when you felt deeply proud of your work at school or overcame a challenge that initially felt insurmountable?
Putting my thoughts on paper has never been my strong suit; I typically prefer to think and then create. Joining the illustration class was undoubtedly the most intimidating experience of the year for me. I faced numerous challenges, and my instructor encouraged me to trust the process. Initially, the assignments felt overwhelming but I persevered and eventually, everything fell into place. By the end of the course, I had developed my own unique fashion illustration style, a feat that once seemed impossible.
“Throughout my time at Blanche, I learned that being vulnerable while creating is okay. This process allowed me to break free of my self-doubt.”
Q: Now that you’ve graduated, what excites you most about stepping into the fashion world? Are there any dreams or goals you’re especially passionate about pursuing?
Returning to school was primarily motivated by my desire to equip myself with the skills necessary to launch my own business. I aspire to earn a living through design. Currently, I aim to gather more industry experience while determining the path I want my business to follow. I am incredibly enthusiastic about the opportunities that 2025 holds and what I can contribute to it!
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