CAFA | About Us

We are a fashion college and sewing school teaching both professionals and home sewers. Our philosophy begins with the classical techniques used in French couture houses, combined with cutting-edge, luxury ready-to-wear design and construction methods.

Classes Start This Week 〰️ Still Time To Enrol

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Classes Start This Week 〰️ Still Time To Enrol 〰️

Our Approach

This blend of the old and the new offers our students strong technical skills, with the college specialising in draping, couture construction techniques and fashion illustration.

What We Believe

We aim to inspire our students and equip them with the attitude, expertise and experience to stay true to their fashion vision, while providing the grounding needed to be commercially successful.

How We Teach

To maximise learning, our class sizes are kept small and all students receive instruction from teachers who are both talented educators and highly skilled industry professionals. Learning is largely self-paced, allowing students to progress at a speed that suits their experience and ability, while being guided and supported as needed.

Students are matched with teachers whose expertise best aligns with their areas of interest, ensuring focused instruction and meaningful feedback throughout their studies.

Meet our teachers

Our Studio

Our modern, light-filled workrooms are equipped with the latest industrial and domestic sewing machines, as well as Adobe Illustrator pattern design software. As an additional service, most of the equipment our students need can be purchased directly from the school at very competitive prices, including a range of hard-to-find items.

Flexible Study

We recognise the pace of life today and offer a flexible timetable, with classes running during the week, in the evenings and on Saturdays.

Gaylene McCaw

CEO & FOUNDER
After a career in business, Gaylene trained in Fashion Design and Merchandising in Sydney and Paris. She has qualifications in law, accountancy and fashion, and over 10 years’ experience across fashion retail, business strategy and management, training organisation leadership, fashion design and garment construction.
Leonie News

STUDENT SERVICES & ADMINISTRATION
Leonie has over 25 years’ experience in administration and human resources management and supports students with timetables, inductions, course information and materials throughout their studies.
Deborah Staples

TEACHER
Debbie has over 10 years’ industry experience across fashion retail and bespoke design. She has worked as a pattern designer, finisher and grader, managed workrooms for start-up designers, and specialises in tailoring, prototyping and garment sampling.
Meredith Paterson

TEACHER
Meredith has been teaching at CAFA for five years, where she is passionate about developing her students’ technical skill and creative confidence. She placed 10th in NSW for her HSC Textiles & Design major work at holds a Diploma of Fashion Design. Meredith has industry experience working for Louis Vuitton as an in-store tailor, and as a couture bridal dressmaker for Rhonda Hemmingway Couture. Between her freelance commissions, Meredith enjoys goldwork embroidery. Her embroidery work has been featured in the Looked At and Overlooked exhibition at Gallery 76 alongside Gaylene McCaw, Mary Brown, and Dijanna Mulhearn.