My name is Isabella (Izzy Kotzikas) and I am a 21-year-old undergraduate student from Christchurch, New Zealand. In September 2024, I made the independent decision to relocate to Melbourne to immerse myself in the Australian fashion industry. The realisation that I was destined to work in fashion came naturally and well before I understood what a career was. From an early age, I was obsessed with shoes, eagerly spending my pocket money on red ballet flats and scribbling “Izzy’s Shoes” in my mum’s cookbook as if it were my first business plan. Growing up in a family of five with three sisters and a trendy mum, my love for fashion felt inevitable and has ultimately paved the journey I am now on.

After studying at the University of Otago, I quickly discovered that both my head and heart were in fashion, and despite it not being a degree offered in New Zealand, I found a way to make it happen. I am in such a fortunate position to be where I am today through my parents’ support both financially and emotionally, encouraging me to find my niche and follow my passions. The opportunities that follow will