Hinterland Grapevine - Landsborough designer gets a big break in national charity display

Natalie Cunningham, 24, is a young woman who knows this only too well.    But she recently came up with a courageous plan to deal with her grief and make her late daughter's name live on forever.

After losing her baby daughter Aaliyah in tragic circumstances 11 months ago, Natalie met a successful local clothing designer and immediately knew her destiny was to create her own fashion label as a memorial tribute to her daughter.

Natalie was so impressed by the designer's talents she became inspired and decided to enrol in a Sunshine Coast TAFE fashion course where she would create her own label - Aaliyah C as a tribute to her little girl.

Now the Indigenous student from Landsborough has registered the Aaliyah C label and one of her creations was displayed at the Do it with Denim Jeans for Genes fashion competition held at the Sofitel Wentworth in Sydney on July 20.

All money raised from the competition was donated to the Children's Medical Research Institute to help find causes for genetic illnesses such as spina bifida, epilepsy and cerebral palsy.   Natalie said she was shocked to find out that her dress was on display in front of some very influential people from fashion and entertainment circles.

"I even heard that Nicole Kidman might have been there," Natalie said.   "As a designer this exposure was a fantastic opportunity for me to get my name out there and hopefully it's a sign of bigger things to come." Sunshine Coast TAFE fashion teacher Teressa Schmidt said Natalie was a committed student with a very promising career ahead of her as a designer.

"Natalie is both determined and driven and these traits will serve her well in a very challenging and competitive industry," Ms Schmidt said.    "Natalie has an abundance of talent and inner strength and has overcome so much in a short time that the sky is definitely the limit for her."

Natalie specialises in classy after five wear for both men and women and said her new career path is something of a family tradition.

"I am very proud of my Indigenous heritage and in my family there are plenty of creative people who work as dress-makers and upholsterers, so becoming a fashion designer for me was very natural," Natalie said "I like to design elegant clothes that make people feel like royalty when they wear them and my next project is to make an Indigenous range of clothing that will be formal, but will feature original Indigenous artwork."

Natalie said she also wants to set up a charity that will raise awareness surrounding the illness that claimed the life of her baby.   "Aaliyah died from group B streptococcal, which is a bacteria that forms in the stomach, and then goes to the brain and lungs and eventually pneumonia and blood poisoning sets in," Natalie said

"The good news is that this is preventable by taking tablets and I want to donate a percentage of money from my sales to support this cause that not many people are aware of." Aaliyah C made to measure clothing is available to make wedding and formal dresses by request.    For more information about the Aaliyah C clothing range phone Natalie Cunningham on 0402 736 758 or email nataliecunningham@ hotmail.com

Last Updated ( Saturday, 02 September 2006 )

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