Meet The Rugby-Playing Student Who, Surprise, Is Also An Award-Winning Fashion Designer

This post is presented in partnership with Wool4School.

Ben Colvin is, in his own words, a “pretty basic” kind of guy.

“I really like my rugby and my skiing,” the 16-year-old told Student Edge.

And yet, he surprised everyone – including himself – when he discovered his greatest talents may lie in fashion design.

Late last year, Ben became the first male to win the top prize for Wool4School national student design competition, topping more than 1100 entrants from across hundreds of schools.

Here’s the kicker: Ben hadn’t even experimented with textiles and design prior to 2015. Before then, he primarily occupied his time by playing rugby for Redlands in Cremorne, NSW.

Now, after years of wondering what career choices lay ahead, a future in fashion is suddenly a possibility for Colvin. (David Pocock or Israel Folau probably don’t have the same option available to them.)

“I actually haven’t been interested in design and textiles that long,” he explained.

“We went to an information evening about all the subjects and I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do and I’d never really thought about textiles.

“I talked to one of the textiles teachers and everything she said sounded interesting… it just kind of seemed like I could be all right at it.”

That casual assumption turned out to be freakishly prescient.

In Term 1, Ben’s Year 10 textiles and design class was tasked with entering the The Woolmark Company's Wool4School competition, producing a design in response to the theme ‘Live Life Love Wool’. His entry, entitled ‘Something Missing’, took the comp by storm.

“I kind of took that [theme] as a chance to design something for everyday life; something that I would love and something that people would like to wear, and make that mainly out of wool,” he said.

“I wasn’t sure what I wanted to design, but then I started drawing and playing around with ideas. One thing led to another and then I thought, if I added that military style, that ‘Something Missing’, it could be something quite good.”

Pictured: Illustration of a Ben Colvin's Wool4School submission, 'Something Missing'. Supplied.

By the Term 3 holidays, Ben was back on the slopes, where he received a call telling him he was a finalist for the grand prize: $1800 and a photoshoot for Girlfriend magazine.

“I thought that would be the end of it. I didn’t even think I’d be a finalist,” he insisted.

Two weeks later, Ben – then 15 – was informed of his record-breaking victory.

“I never really gave design or textiles any thought [about continuing it] after school, but now, since I’ve won Wool4School, I’ve realised that maybe I could pursue it,” he said.

At least he’s got the backing of his rugby buddies, who have since come around to his unexpected new skill.

“Everyone is supportive [now] but [initially] they found it a bit strange how I ended up doing textiles and winning the competition. I’m not really the stereotypical designer.”

Since winning, Ben’s been photographed for Girlfriend - in which his wool outfit was also modelled by social influencer Alex Hayes - and received his $1800 prize money. Not that he can do much with it now.

“Mum has made me put it away in a bank,” he said.

“It’s smart,” Ben hesitantly admitted, adding with a laugh, “but a bit annoying knowing I have so much money and can’t access it.”

Photos supplied by Wool4School.

Check out Ben in action at his photo shoot. And congratulations to the 2016 Wool4School competition winners: Lana Harris (Year 7), Natasha Banks (Year 8), Bianca Armstrong (Year 9), Annie Liao (Year 10), Chanelle Davenport (Year 11) and Claire Ward (Teacher Prize). For further information visit wool4school.com and don’t forget to #wool4school your progress.