Fashion idea wins Premier's $45,000 Scholarhip

Monday, 16 October 2000

A smart idea to develop a software package for the fashion industry has earned 25-year-old Belair student Chalisa Morrison the $45,000 Premier's Enterprise Scholarship for 2000.

Premier John Olsen says the scholarship will enable Ms Morrison to further develop her idea during six months of study and research at the University of Texas in Austin next year.

"Chalisa's association with the world-renowned Austin Technology Incubator will provide her with invaluable experience in respect to IT-based fashion design in the United States," the Premier said. "Chalisa will then apply this experience to a Graduate Entrepreneurial Program at Adelaide University. The Enterprise Scholarship is designed to maximise the opportunities available to talented South Australian students and assist them to continue their higher education studies in the State," the Premier said.

Ms Morrison has just completed an Advanced Diploma in Fashion Management Production at the Douglas Mawson Institute of TAFE, where she currently lectures in computer-aided design.

"Winning the Premier's Scholarship is a fabulous opportunity for me," Ms Morrison said.

The former Blackwood High School pupil studied art and drama at Flinders University and costume design at the Centre for Performing Arts. She has also worked as a fashion illustrator and computer-aided design operator with Adelaide-based corporate clothing firm, Angus Clyne. As part of her final-year TAFE studies, she and a fellow student have established a fashion business specialising in larger-sized clothing.

"I've been very busy over the last three or four years, between study and work, so I'm looking forward to spending quality time focusing on my software idea which has the potential to greatly increase cost efficiencies within the fashion industry," Ms Morrison said.

"I enjoy the fashion industry and also like the intellectual challenge of information technology. My ambition is to run my own company selling a range of larger size clothing and, at the same time, to run my own fashion software company."

Before leaving for Texas in February, Ms Morrison will begin introductory studies to small business management and entrepreneurship at Adelaide University's Graduate Entrepreneurial Program based at its Thebarton campus.

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