Noosa wearable art designer Teddy McRitchie is realising a dream held for 10 years to study at Australia’s leading performing arts school, the National Institute for Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney, as he follows his path to create extraordinary garments for the world stage.
“When I was young and started getting into designing wearable art NIDA was that place I always wanted to go and study,“ the 21-year-old said.
“Essentially the most well known people in Australian film, television and theatre have studied there. I really feel like it’s a place where creativity is seen and shown for what it is. It’s that place you can explore limitless creativity. That’s what I stand for.“
The school, which boasts a long list of famous former students including actors Cate Blanchett and Mel Gibson and director Baz Luhrmann and numerous accolades, has rigorous and highly competitive entry requirements.
Teddy is one of only six students across Australia accepted by NIDA this year to study a Bachelor of Fine Arts in costume.
“Because it was so selective and hard to get into I spent a couple of years after I graduated high school in 2021 to build up my portfolio and life experience so when I was ready to go into NIDA I could do it to the best of my capabilities,“ he said.
“A lot of people who apply for NIDA don’t get in on their first attempt. I got in on my very first attempt which is quite amazing.“
The two-stage enrolment process began with Teddy filling in an application form, submitting a 15-page portfolio of his work, and creating a garment out of fabric and pattern of his choice. After passing this first stage, Teddy was required to prepare a written response to a costume they presented him with and take part in a half hour interview with the lecturers.
Fortunately for Teddy he was able to attend an open day at NIDA last June where he met some of his lecturers, and his portfolio of accomplishments is impressive.
Teddy began designing wearable art 10 years ago at the age of 11.
“I used to live on Norfolk Island and there was a big costume festival. My mother always entered the wearable art category but never won,“ Teddy said.
“In 2015 when I was 11 I thought I’d make something. I won three awards.“
Teddy invested his winnings in materials for future competitions and hasn’t looked back.
After moving to Australia in 2018 Teddy already had his future mapped out in front of him.
He began voluntarily making costumes for local theatre groups Little Seed and Noosa Arts Theatre and in 2019 entered one of his wearable art creations in the Body Art Festival at Cooroy.
There his designs captured the attention of representatives of the Australian Wearable Art Festival and in 2019 his design at the national festival won the best student award.
Covid put a stop to festivals for two years but on its return Teddy again entered the Australian Wearable Art Festival receiving an award for Best Headpiece for his Queen Bee entry, that was inspired by bees – the decline of the bee population and the importance of bees to the whole world.
In 2023 his designs hit the bright lights of New Year when the 20-year-old fashion designer was given a spot for his designs to be shown on the Times Square Runway during New York Fashion Week.
Teddy took with him items from his collection titled ’Kaleidoscope’ which he released at Brisbane Fashion Festival in 2022 and was made from recycled bike tubes and heat-distorted organza.
The experience placed his work under the gaze of fashion insiders, buyers, retailers, press, celebrities and models and enabled him to attend other fashion shows and see the latest collections come down the runway.
Last year Teddy created a piece called Set in Stone, taking inspiration from cathedrals around the work, which was a finalist in the Australian Wearable Art Festival. He was also working to save for his move to Sydney next month to begin his NIDA course.
The course will deliver an in-depth knowledge of fine arts techniques, millinery and costume making across all genres from dance costumes to period pieces and the students will gain experience by creating costumes for NIDA show performances.
Teddy sees NIDA as the next step to achieving his goal to create one-off grand costumes worn on stages around the world and seen by thousands of people.
“I feel I have a complete love for performance and working hard for a show or performance, and seeing that happen,“ he said.
“I want to work with singers, drag artists, performers, with big theatre, television. I just want my pieces to be seen on the biggest stages of the world.“
