The Fabric of Us

21 Aug

The Fabric of Us: from the Ag hall to the fashion parades, our local fibres sparked curiosity and intrigue at Brisbane’s Ekka. There is nothing I love more than connecting people to the stories of their clothes. It was an honour to have my work feature in Queensland’s iconic fashion parade & to be part of Cotton Australia’s activation. Madi & Pip looks were all Australian made, using only biologically circular components (no plastics used - not even in thread selection and notions). Two of the three looks were made of Australian fibres and the third, silk. Designs were styled with Pearls of Australia and Julia Bramich Ceramics.

Madi and Pip’s designs featured in the parades include an incredible purple marle gown, created using Australian fibres; right down to the threads used to sew it. This is a structurally complex, elegant, multiwear jersey gown with 3D applique of the Australian native plant, the kangaroo paw. (As I worked on this gown I was completing my Foundation In Sustainable Floristry training program, the cut flower garden beyond the studio continues to expand and inspire my practice.) This fabric was produced as part of the Mud To Marle Project funded by Country Road Climate Fund. Mud to Marle is an industry collaboration led by Full Circle Fibres, alongside Deakin University and local fibre producers including Geelong Textiles; Michell Wool; and Australian Super Cotton.

Crafted from Australian wool and cotton, sewn with Australian cotton thread, featuring a 3D applique of Australian native plant the kangaroo paw.

Artwork by Emma Bond. Paper made from Madi & Pip Australian cotton fabric offcuts, made by cotton grower Carmen Ronald from the Liverpool Plains.

“Mud to Marle Project was a beautiful opportunity to engineer for excellence. Taking the natural properties of Australian wool and cotton and combining them so that we can get a fabric that performs in a way that we often now only think is possible with synthetic fibres. We were able to blend the fibres embracing the natural stretch and recovery from wool, with the ease and care of cotton.” Meriel Chamberlin, Full Circle Fibres.

"It is wonderful to see the natural-fibre clothing story so much in evidence at the Ekka this year, with great educational displays about our cotton and wool fibre industries. Such story-telling about where clothes come from helps people understand that if they're not wearing natural fibres grown on farms, they're wearing plastic or synthetic fibres derived from fossil fuels and shedding microplastic particles that never break down." Says Jane Milburn OAM, sustainability consultant, Churchill Fellow 2019.

For everyone working in Ag to produce these coveted fibres, a gentle reminder to please share your story and love for the part you play in our supply chain. When we humanise the stories of our clothes, garments stay in use for longer and people make better choices, respecting and celebrating our land and people.

Thank you and congratulations to Laura Churchill of Fashion Queensland, Tony Laffan, the team at Cotton Australia, especially Jenny Hues! BTS working their magic for the fashion parades Stefan Hair, Claire Andrea, Jessinta Lawrence & Caroline Attwood, capturing the looks. Lastly, a shout out to the incredible work of Queensland Spinners and Weavers demonstrating their fibre arts and raising money for the Royal Flying Doctors Queensland throughout Ekka.