First Nations fibre artisans of the Top End have been threading together the stories of their ancestors for generations upon generations, with age-old techniques passing from hand to hand. An ancient and traditional craft that sees form seamlessly melded with functionality, Thread Count is a multi-media installation that shares the powerful stories of this intricate female led practice and the Master Weavers behind it.
Curated by Nina Fitzgerald, and supported by Agency Projects, the Thread Count installation brings together some of the finest woven bags and baskets from Arnhemland and the Daly River Region of the Northern Territory, considering the weaves in the context of contemporary fashion, and changing the way the uniquely Australian practice is perceived.
Contemporary Australian textile design and the legacy of Frances Burke
Frances Burke was Australia’s most influential and celebrated textile designer of the 20th century. Displaying imagery and colours from native flora, marine objects, to designs of pure abstraction, Burke’s innovative fabrics remain fresh and distinctly evocative of Australia.
Diverting discarded or dead-stock materials for use in the work of our refugee and new migrant fashion students, The Social Studio works to correct the imbalance of textile waste which is emerging as a critical environmental issue both locally and overseas. With Australians sending thousands of tonnes of unwanted clothing to landfill each year, we are reconciling through the circular design of a ready-to-wear collection made from entirely zero waste pattern-making, where no fabric is left unused through the design process.
Located at the Collingwood Yards, Stay Soft is a community co-working space that hosts a monthly night market and is home to a number of local artists.
The Stay Soft Markets have been running for several years, between Brunswick and Collingwood, and have grown from a small carpark to the gorgeous backdrop of the Collingwood Yards. The Collingwood Night Market returns in Autumn, as part of the Melbourne Fashion Festival’s independent program. They will welcome a range of fashion-focused stallholders to sell their wares in the Collingwood Yards courtyard, soundtracked by Hope Street Radio.
Join Arts Project Australia and West Space to celebrate the closing weekend of joint exhibition ‘Sincerely Yours’.
Fashions next-gen meets fashion knowledge and expertise in this exciting collaboration between the young creatives of Yarra Youth Services and Melbourne designer Ingrid Verner, of Verner.