Catch up with Cassie

What It Takes To Go Behind-the-Scenes At One Of Australia’s Biggest Fashion Events – And How You Can Too

Earlier this year, I had the absolute pleasure of catching up with Cassie Butschek, an ambitious fashion marketing student who recently took her talents interstate to the Melbourne Fashion Festival. As a frequent stalker of her Instagram, I was undeniably intimidated by her imperfectly sleek hair and effortlessly chic sense of style. Over slowly melting iced matcha, Cassie was kind enough to answer my ceaseless questions and provide advice for other young Adelaide fashion-hopefuls on how to seize similar opportunities. 

Meet Cassie!

Found @cassie_butschek, go check her out!

How did your journey into the world of fashion begin?

Butschek: In high school, I felt like I was… very trapped. There’s no way I could have grown in that environment. When I was finally out, I was like, “I can actually do what I want… I can think about it for a second.”

I’d always liked [fashion] as a little kid, with dress-ups and everything… Even when I was just scrolling on social media, I was looking at [fashion] and thinking, “That is so cool — how do I do this?”

I graduated in 2024… and I actually studied a semester of sports science and psychology for the first half of last year.

Then, because my degree wasn’t working, I said, “I’m finally going to make this decision.”

I remember I broke down to my parents because I’d been on this sports journey for so long, [and] I felt like I was just throwing it out the window. They were fine [with the decision] and, honestly, surprised I hadn’t thought of [pursuing fashion] sooner.

What advice would you give to other young Adelaide creatives looking to get into the industry?

Butschek: I will email anyone I can. I’ve contacted modelling agencies, just asking if they need an assistant [or] an intern. I don’t care if it’s not paid. 

The modelling agency ‘The Models’ got back to me, saying, “We’re currently not looking for anyone, but we know a couple of stylists that might,” [and] they gave me two names. So, I’ve been on three editorial shoots now. One was a wedding, and two have actually been for a pram, but [the stylist] still obviously needs to dress the model, and we had a real baby with us… It was so cute! 

Basically, I’m just helping the model by holding stuff, because we’re literally taking the photos on the street. We’ll go around Adelaide… It’s honestly so fun.

I feel very strongly that you need some form of academic education, but you also need to get your name out there. And that’s what I’m saying - the amount of people I have sent emails to, and then they get back to me months later and say, “Hey, are you available to do this shoot?” 

A lot of the people, when I go to job interviews, go, “Oh wow, I’m actually surprised you emailed.” So, I don’t actually think there are that many people that are being as pushy as me. 

A lot of them think things are just going to fall into place, and it’s like, “No you have to put in the hard yards”… send emails, talk to people, follow people [online]. It definitely does work out sometimes.

You need to be very persistent and quick to respond to things. Like if you’re in a show or on a shoot and someone says, “Hold this,” you need to GRAB IT. You’ve got to be switched on.

You recently worked behind-the-scenes at Melbourne Fashion Festival; how did you discover this opportunity and what was your experience like?

Butschek: Starting in October last year, I put in [an application] to volunteer at Adelaide Fashion Week. That was the first thing — [I] highly, highly recommend it.

There’s a team of 15 to 20 of us, and I was there from the start to the end of Fashion Week. You get taught how to set everything up, meet all the designers, and bring in the clothes. Then you have all the fittings done, tape up all the shoes [for the show], and start going through the actual runway prep.

I absolutely loved the runway shows so much. There were about 15 models but 60 looks, so you might have two or three changes per show. You would have to think, “Okay, they’re look number 4 and then look number 26, so I have X amount of time to get them in, out, and back [on the runway].”

It literally felt like a fever dream.

You see the looks basically on the day of the show, but still have to go, “Okay, the earrings are only in this ear, and the bracelet has to be on the correct hand.” You’ve got to know your shit. It ends, and you go back home, and you’re like, “Oh my God, I can’t believe it’s over.”

Because I’d done Adelaide, I was trying to hit up any possible runways I [could], so I put in [an application] for the Melbourne Fashion Festival. They didn’t mind that I was from Adelaide.

You have to fly yourself over and pay for accommodation, but they feed you, so that’s good. It’s the exact same drill as Adelaide, but on a whole different level. It’s huge. You’re working from 8:30–9 am until about 10:30 pm. It’s full-on. Once you get into bed, you’re out cold!

What do you love most about the fashion industry? What makes you want to keep going?

Butschek: I’m a competitive person, so I like the competitive side of it. But I also agree that everyone expresses themselves through fashion, [and] I’m just very drawn to it. It’s very cool… and so f**king fun!

I feel like there’s a job out there meant for me; I’m just not aware of it yet. I keep telling people that I know what I like, I just don’t know what job goes along with that… it’s going to be very niche.

I’m in the mindset of if I want something, I will find a way to get it!