Ella Taylor first realised fashion could be a career option for her through high school Home Economics classes, and her vocational education and training (VET) journey has cemented this for her.

“I remember making my first garment in a high school Home Economics class and absolutely falling in love with the process,” Ella said.

Fashion has long been part of Ella’s life. With a mother who worked in retail and a grandmother who was a skilled seamstress, creativity and craftsmanship were always close by.

“She taught me the basics when I was little. Sitting with her while she worked on projects is one of the first memories I have of feeling truly inspired. I think she’d be proud to see how far I’ve come.”

Ella’s passion grew as she discovered the satisfaction of creating garments from scratch.

“It comes naturally to me. When I found myself excited to go to my Home Economics class and learn more, I realised fashion could be more than just an interest,” she said.

“From there, I looked at how I could turn it into a career, which led me to study at TAFE Queensland.”

Looking ahead, Ella hopes to explore a range of opportunities within the fashion industry, from ready-to-wear design and costume creation to eventually launching her own label.

“I want to create fashion that’s both innovative and sustainable and help push the industry towards more responsible practices.”

Crowned the National Champion for Fashion Technology at the 2025 WorldSkills Australia National Championships, Ella is preparing to represent the country at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.

“It was such an incredible experience. It pushed me, not just technically, but mentally too. It was intense, but I loved every second of it.

“It was such a surreal moment, knowing that I’d designed and created something that reflected both the competition criteria and my own style. It really made me step back and appreciate how far I’ve come,” she said.

Ella is one of 38 Skillaroos chosen to represent Australia at the prestigious international competition, which will bring together more than 1,400 competitors from over 70 countries and regions across 64 skill categories.

National Skills Week in 2026 celebrates with its theme Life Changing the many ways VET can change a life, and Ella’s story is a clear example of this at work.

https://worldskills.org/what/competitions/worldskills-shanghai-2026/