For Rose Guiffre, fashion has always been a way to explore how things work.
A 2025 graduate of the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Fashion and Textiles Design (Honours) program, she combines a background in dance, environmental conservation, and a family history of designers and engineers to create work that sits between technology, craft, and the natural world.
Drawn to fashion through ballet costuming and inspired by learning to sew from her mum and Nonna, Rose knew early in high school that she wanted to study textiles and fashion. UTS quickly became her first choice.
"I was really attracted to the way the course balanced creative exploration with academic research," she says. "I think UTS really gets you to think critically about design and develop work that is grounded in research and ideas."
Her decision was reinforced by seeing the experience her sibling had studying Visual Communication at UTS.
Finding inspiration through the creative process
When asked about her most memorable experience at UTS, Rose points to the intense week leading up to the Honours graduate show.
"It was such an adrenaline rush to finish the looks, make last minute edits, and see everything come together," she says.
"There were a lot of late nights with friends, and I am so in awe of my cohort and their ideas, as well as work ethic."
The experience taught her the value of persistence and the importance of embracing every stage of a project.
"It inspired me to really see a project out to completion and fall in love with the process, which is so vital to keep creating work."
How did your passion for fashion begin?
I’m a 21-year-old emerging fashion designer based in Sydney. I learnt to knit and crochet at three years old from my Italian Nonna, and I’ve always known I wanted to do something creative. It’s incredibly special that what began as a childhood hobby is now my career, and that I’m able to honour her through my work and my craft every day.
Why did you choose to study fashion at UTS?
I always knew I wanted to pursue something creative, but I didn’t initially realise it could be a viable career. In Year 10, when I was choosing my subjects for year 11 and 12, I went around to all the local unis. I still remember walking into the textile labs at UTS, and it just felt right.
At the time, the ATAR for fashion was 98.85, which felt daunting, but that moment gave me a clear goal. A lot of hard work during the HSC helped me get into my dream course at my dream university.
What was one of the most memorable experiences during your degree?
One of the most memorable experiences was completing the Global Studio subject in Hong Kong with Dr Doris Li.
We visited the Shima Seiki Innovation Lab, yarn factories, and textile suppliers, and saw first-hand how advanced the knitwear industry is outside Australia. That experience deeply inspired me to pursue knitwear in my Honours year and beyond.
I had always had an element of knit in my collections, but never an entire collection made from knit. It also exposed me to the relationship between knitwear design and textile design, which became the central focus of my practice.
The timing was perfect. This was my final subject before Honours, so I was able to apply everything I learnt from that experience, and over the past three years, into developing a fully knitted collection.
Can you tell us about your collection, OCEANA?
OCEANA is an entirely Shima Seiki knitted collection that celebrates our ocean's own artistry.
It’s an ode to Mother Earth's untamed radiance, and the natural wonders that define Australia's oceanic identity.
All the textile prints are based on my hand drawn oil pastel studies of aposematic sea life native to Australia, then they were translated into jacquard knit for the collection.
My collection pioneers industry-first knit structures and techniques, pushing beyond traditional flat knits into sculptural forms and playful textures. Each piece demonstrates that knitwear can be bold, dynamic, and fashion-forward.
OCEANA positions knitwear at the forefront of Australian fashion, spotlighting the vibrant beauty of our marine life, reminding us that the planet's most mesmerising creations are worth protecting.
I still remember walking into the textile labs at UTS, and it just felt right.
How did studying at UTS shape your creative practice?
I never imagined creating a fully knitted collection. I always imagined sewing with woven fabrics, but that never felt quite right for me, so UTS helped me rediscover my love for knitwear and helped me realise that I can design in this space rather than knitting just being a hobby.
There’s so much left unexplored in the Australian knit industry. Everything feels so new and innovative in this space. Design feels more intuitive now rather than asking for permission.
What was the fashion course like at UTS?
The course is incredibly hands on and requires a lot of time, commitment, and energy. It asks for real dedication and sometimes sacrifice.
It provides strong foundational knowledge of the fashion industry, but it also encourages you to take initiative, finding internships, gaining industry experience, and discovering your own direction.
For me, that was so valuable. By the time I graduated, I not only had a degree but also industry experience and a clear understanding of what I wanted, and what I didn’t want, from a career in fashion.
What’s next
Alberta makes her debut at Australian Fashion Week 2026. Read more via Fashion Journal.