Heidi Brooks - Costume Design and Maker

Welcome! 

My name is Heidi and I'm a costume/cosplay designer and maker based in Melbourne Australia. I'm an aboriginal woman originally from Port Macquarie NSW, grew up on the Sunshine Coast in QLD before moving to Melbourne in my early 20's. When I'm not at my sewing table I enjoy reading, illustrating, playing video games, or having quality time with my friends or my other half. 

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I’ve always had a passion of performance both stage and screen. Originally from a performance point a view studying dance and drama when I was a teen but developed more into an interest then love for costumes. I began to notice my attention towards the costumes shift from just appreciation to trying to understand their construction, the way they moved, the design lines etc.  I first started making costumes in 2014. I had no formal training in patterning or sewing both by hand or machine, but I just dove into it and fell in love. 

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In 2019 I decided to return to higher learning and enrolled in Melbourne Polytechnics Live Production course to gain formal training in patterning, designing, construction and dressing for productions. During my course I did placements for the Moomba festival and the Victorian Opera. Unfortunately, I finished my diploma finished just as the pandemic begun, so I have since spent my time working on my own skills while productions and work opportunities have been on hiatus.

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For years I made cosplays for myself for comic book conventions across Australia and even the US and New Zealand. Once my confidence grew I began to enter competitions, mostly through the Australian Championships of Cosplay. I've competed in this competition 4 times now and took out first place in Needlework in 2019. I have also competed in a competition in New Zealand twice and in 2020 received the Judges award for my smocking techniques I incorporated into my design. 

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As a costumier I have had experience designing, patterning, making, altering, bumping shows in/out and dressing. I work well both independently and with a team, working with directors/employers and designers to ensure their vision for the show is fulfilled through exemplary costume work. I have been fortunate enough to spend 4 weeks at the Australian Ballet in August 2021 doing costume alterations for productions cancelled for the year due to lockdowns.

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The more I create the more I discover what styles I love within making costumes. I have a love of undergarments specifically corsets. I try to create different styles as much as possible where suits the costume (stays, late Victorian, Edwardian etc). I also love late Victorian and Edwardian, Regency and Rococo/Baroque. However currently I am exploring utilising historical techniques in a fantasy setting, creating original fantasy character designs with historical inspiration. 

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Since completing my Diploma of Live Production I have taken on private commissions during COVID for private employers for undergarments, designs and full costumes.

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