Billie Whitehouse
Billie Whitehouse is an innovative designer, fashion educator, stylist and creative director. Born and raised in Sydney and the New South Wales countryside, Billie graduated from the Whitehouse Institute of Design, Australia, in 2008. Her signature aesthetic of sharp, experimental, naturally confident and subtly feminine designs was clear from her first collection for the Pink Gala Breast Cancer Ball held at the Sydney Opera House in 2008. She was interviewed by Channel 9 for the 12-piece collection, which was a collaboration with Cerrone Jewellry and sponsored by the Australian Wool Innovators.
Billie continued her studies in Florence, Italy, completing a Masters program (Fashion as Art) at Accademia Italiana. During her time in Europe, Billie worked with the iconic Italian designers at Pitti Filati, learning the ins and outs of quality knitwear and Italian style.
She returned to Sydney to work under her mother Leanne Whitehouse, founder and creative director of the Whitehouse Institute of Design, Australia, a leading design education facility based in Sydney and Melbourne. Billie is the Alumni Relations Manager and also works across most areas of the business, from arranging and coordinating events, helping graduates find employment and integrating commercial assignments into the curriculum.
Over the last three years Billie has been facilitating programs such as as Up-Cycle Whitehouse with the Red Cross, Vogue Fashion Night Out, the Australian Chocolate Couture Awards (held at the Lindt Chocolate Ball), the Witchery White Shirt Campaign, 3D printing, styling for music videos and short films, and uniform competitions with Ibis Hotels Australia. This is in addition to teaching fashion illustration, styling and creative direction in both the vocational education and higher education sectors.
This year Billie is funding a scholarship for Australian Indigenous Fashion Week and is educating and facilitating the event with the committee. She is also on the Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy ( FSHD) committee, where she produces the visual campaign to promote the annual FSHD Chocolate Ball.
Billie’s latest project was working with Snepo technology and Havas advertising to develop Fundawear – a world-first lingerie that communicates touch from your iPhone via elegantly hidden sensors. The bamboo range was developed for Durexperiment and is at the cutting edge of wearable technology. Billie hopes to continue to blend technology, innovative fabrics and beautiful design in future projects.