Deanna Fanning's parents weren't shocked when she announced she wasn't pursuing a career in law and international relations, the field she'd been studying since completing high school.
"I'd just finished my Bachelor's degree and decided I wanted to move to London to study fashion," Fanning told The Huffington Post Australia.
After all, this was a young woman who'd spent her childhood watching her grandmother, a dressmaker, work on wedding dresses in her makeshift studio out of her garage.
Growing up in Melbourne's western suburbs, Fanning and her twin sister would spend weekends helping their grandmother. And when there was nothing to do, they'd pour over her fashion magazines.
"It wasn't very glamorous -- a lot of what she made was mother of the bride stuff," Fanning explains.
Though it was enough to inspire a career in fashion, and one that's looking rather bright indeed.
Earlier this month, Fanning was awarded the prestigious Australian Fashion Foundation scholarship, an annual internship program which will see her hone her craft in Europe for six months in 2017.
The foundation is well-known for discovering local talent and pairing them with the likes of Proenza Schouler and Alexander McQueen.
For London-based Fanning who specialises in knitwear, making a career pivot didn't come without its challenges.
"It took a lot of patience and perseverance," Fanning explains.
"When you're changing your path it can get really frustrating and you fail a lot to begin with."
"You get there in the end, but I'm definitely still learning," Fanning said.
And, not surprisingly it's the things close to home that inspire her most.
"I've been away from Australia for almost five years now, and for my graduate collection, it was my grandmother and hometown where I drew the most inspiration," Fanning said.
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