Vancouver Fashion eZine - Online Magazine | Helen Lefeaux Fashion Student

At age 24, Randi Obenauer is focused, confident and sure of her direction. A recent graduate of Helen Lefeaux, she took second in Portobello West's Graduate Award contest and is currently selling her designer leather handbags while working on her advanced certificate in Textile Arts at Capilano College.

Obenauer was born in the small town of Logan Lake where horseback riding was a passion. A self-taught seamstress who manipulated patterns, she was fortunate to have "the best Home Ec teacher ever" in high school to assist her with projects such as sewing the gowns worn when she was Miss Logan Lake. Post-secondary education had always been a priority. Wanting to establish a firm base she first earned her Fine Arts Diploma from the Thompson Rivers University. A trade was also an important step and to use her sewing skills she decided to study auto upholstery at Kwantlen University College eventually purchasing her own heavy-duty walking foot machine. While she worked in this male-dominated trade for over a year, she now only does an occasional custom job. These trade skills came to good use when the opportunity arose to work with artist Donald Lawrence on a massive sculpture of an old shipwreck that was displayed in the Contemporary Art Gallery. She stitched the over-sized canvas covering that the artist painted and draped over a wooden frame.

Becoming a fashion designer was always a final goal, so after much research Obenauer decided on Helen Lefeaux. "…For me, I really wanted to learn the skill of pattern making. I had a strong base in sewing…but I needed the step I felt I was missing…there was this big mystery in my life and now I love pattern making…" The intensive program with a strong couture aspect was a positive experience that included 2 internships, Kloth Designs and Dusseault Custom Inc., and at graduation she received the Golden Bobbin for top over-all achievement. While in school she started using scrap leather and vintage leather garments to create handbags that she now markets under the Ora label.

Obenauer's grad collection shows her love of intricately structured, finely detailed garments. "I wanted to have a dynamic collection and took a lot of inspiration from the fabric that I used. I tend to get pretty excessive..." It took 10 yards to create her blue silk skirt with layer upon layer of ruffles draped and finished by hand. The accompanying, raw-edged top made from Melton wool has been decorated with needle felting. There is a white silk "bubble" dress covered by hand-cut silk squares with 10 meters of tulle forming the underskirt and a leather bustier paired with a soft wool skirt. My favorite piece, however, is a earthy-toned, double-breasted military style wool coat that has a stand-up collar and a full double circle skirt. Edged by 900 inches of bias trim, it has a classic fit and a skirt that swings beautifully when you walk. Closures on all garments are either organic buttons or lacings.

Upon graduation from Capilano College, Randi Obenauer will continue to establish her handbag line while working toward creating a ready-to-wear line of her own that will contain couture elements. With an outstanding forty-piece collection already in her portfolio, we shouldn't have to wait long. For now you can check out her handbags at www.oraearth.com.