WorldSkills Australia 
Sari Conte
Fashion Technology
WorldSkills Lyon 2024
- Region East Coast QLD
- Employer Ella Moda
- Training Institute TAFE Queensland
- Supported by Queensland Government
When Sari Conte’s grandmother (or Nonna) immigrated to Australia from Reggio Calabria, Italy in 1957, she had big dreams of becoming a seamstress and making beautiful dresses. Unfortunately, as was common for the era, Nonna Conte gave up her small business aspirations to focus on her family – but her dream lives on through Sari, who is making waves as a young fashion designer.
During her first four years of high school, Sari was awarded Dux – the student with the highest grades in the year. With the world at her fingertips, she decided to explore her sartorial sensibilities through the TAFE at Schools program. Sari found the experience so exciting and satisfying that she left school in Year 11 to start a Diploma of Applied Fashion Design and Merchandising.
While her career is just getting started, Sari has already achieved several successes, including selling one of her designs at the debut of her very first collection, and then that design featuring on the runway at the Brisbane Fashion Festival later that year. Sadly, Sari’s Nonna passed away just months before she won Gold at the Nationals in 2023 – a devastating loss that threw her training schedule into disarray. Now Sari is looking to honour her Nonna’s life and legacy in Lyon.
“Losing my Nonna just two months before the Nationals was one of the hardest things I’ve been through. It was hard to keep my motivation up, but I knew to honour her life and legacy I had to make the most of this opportunity.
Fashion Technology Team
Expert – Donna Kirby-Drain
Sari Conte is supported by:
