Simon Swale
Lecturer, Fashion
I have been a lecturer in design here within at Otago Polytechnic, most usually within Fashion, since 2007. I teach across a range of courses, including Design Process, Drawing and Communication, Fashion History and Theory, and have taught on other technical papers also, covering for instance Construction and Patternmaking.
Previous to working here I spent many years working within the fashion and clothing industry. I was involved working in many design studios, working along designers such as Nicholas Blanchet and Tanya Carlson. I spent many years working in leather and slink garment design and manufacture, as well as having experience in working with bigger companies using off-shore production. With my wife, we operated a small design and retail store as a see-what-happens experimental endeavour!
Recent developments continue investigating my interest of aspects of dress and identity, youth cultures, resistance and performance.