Billy Blue College of Design partners with State of Escape

The Australian fashion industry is a major local employer and economic driver, and the global market offers endless opportunities for exciting careers at every level.

With that in mind, our new Bachelor of Fashion Marketing and Enterprise has been designed to provide you with a broad and coherent base of commercial fashion marketing and industry knowledge and skills. It is closely aligned with domestic and international industry demands and expectations, preparing you to enter a creative career that can take you around the world.

To actively embed our Bachelor of Fashion Marketing and Enterprise with the most industry-relevant and in-demand skills and knowledge, we have partnered with luxury accessories brand State of Escape. This partnership will provide our inaugural cohort of students with an opportunity to connect with and learn from leading fashion entrepreneurs and co-founders of State of Escape, Brigitte MacGowan and Desley Maidment.

Now globally successful thanks to their collections of bold, street-style bags, State of Escape is proud of its heritage. Australian made and female founded, the brand celebrates creativity and the role women play in the fashion industry, and the founders look forward to sharing that enthusiasm with our students.

“As a creative, confidently navigating enterprise is the equivalent of a superpower. Working with Torrens University Australia to support likeminded women on this journey is an exciting opportunity. One where the outcome is just the start of a dynamic future career,” says Brigitte, who is the brand’s creative director.

For Robyn Latimer, Associate Dean of Architecture, Art and Design, a visit to the State of Escape workshop highlighted the value of firsthand industry exposure for our students. The opportunity to hear the story behind the brand's success directly from the founders while observing the production process in action offers you a roadmap to entering and succeeding in the industry. In addition, the insights Brigitte and Desley can share around brand and business strategy, corporate responsibility regarding supply chains, environmental and workforce impact, and circular economy principles align seamlessly with our Be Good ethos.  

“Access to industry partners who share their experience with us so openly extends the learning experience beyond the classroom through context and real-world tips and mentorship, bridging the gap between student and industry,” says Robyn.

The Bachelor of Fashion Marketing and Enterprise reflects an Industry that encompasses a wide range of career opportunities outside of fashion design. It has been developed with a global and entrepreneurial approach to provide you with opportunities to explore the industry and devise your own career pathway.

In taking a global perspective, the course will allow you to explore and understand the role that fashion brands play in a global economy, as well as the impact that ethical production, sustainability and concepts such as the circular fashion economy will have in shaping the future of fashion.

“Partnering with Torrens University to support emerging entrepreneurial talent in the innovative ecosystem of fashion is a unique opportunity we are thrilled to be engaged with,” said Desley, State of Escape’s CEO.

As part of State of Escape’s corporate social investment program and their commitment to positively influencing the future leadership of the Australian fashion industry, they will gift Adobe Creative Cloud seats to all Fashion Marketing and Enterprise students commencing in the 14 February 2022 intake. 

On hearing news about the gift, Gabriella, a newly enrolled student into the Fashion Marketing and Enterprise course shared her excitement with us. "Just when I thought studying a brand-new course couldn't get any more exciting, I am now also looking forward to enhancing my learning experience through having access to amazing software. I think I might have even done a little happy dance when I first received the news! Gifting us a student licence for Adobe Creative Cloud is such a thoughtful gesture and we are so grateful. Digital design skills are an important part of creative expression, so having access to this software will be really beneficial as we begin our fashion journey. On behalf of the Fashion Marketing and Enterprise students at Billy Blue College of Design – Brisbane Campus I’d like to say a huge “thank you” to State of Escape for supporting the next generation of fashion leaders!"

Adventure into Fashion Marketing & Enterprise.