By Susan Schwartz
The Australian Wearable Art Fair (AWAF) on the Sunshine Coast will this year attract participants from as far as Romania, and includes a Gympie artist who has worked with Lady Gaga.
The fifth AWAF is a world-class celebration of art, fashion and performance, with 35 visionary artists from Australia, New Zealand, Bali, USA, and Romania.
Renowned for her work with Lady Gaga and top Australian musical acts, Gympie local Cindy Vogels’ collection Future Fragile will open the event.
Ms Vogels’ latest creations are crafted entirely from salvaged and recycled materials as a striking reflection on environmental vulnerability that speaks directly to the Festival’s sustainability-driven ethos.
The opening will be a full art immersion experience with Ms Vogels collaborating with projection artist Donna Maree Robinson and Brisbane-based First Nations music artist GLVES.
“Future Fragile has always held a deep resonance for me – these works were born out of fear for our natural world, and it feels even more relevant and urgent today,” Ms Vogels said.
An estimated 80 per cent of AWAF designs incorporate repurposed materials, showcasing how sustainability and creativity can redefine the fashion world.
Works are made from live growing grass, handwoven natural fibres, robotic elements, and unexpected materials like old video tape, plastic bags – even dog hair.
AWAF co-founder and curator Wendy Roe said Australia is one of the world’s most significant clothing consumers, importing more than 380,000 tonnes each year, with more than 200,000 tonnes of fashion ending up in landfill.
“AWAF is proud to be inspiring people to look at fashion differently, and choose to perhaps repurpose or upcycle before discarding,” Ms Roe said.
“This year, audiences can expect an eclectic mix of materials including recycled plastics, found objects, and plant-based objects colliding with LED lighting, hand-dyed fabrics, and intricate engineering.”
There is a $5,000 prize for the final winner, with the judging panel led by Natasha Smith, Director Curatorial at Urban Arts Projects.
“As a public art curator, I am really interested in the intersection of art and design, and the successful balance between medium, functionality, aesthetics and engagement of the viewer. I think the wearable arts explores these qualities also,” Ms Smith said.
“There are so many ways to unpack the idea of wearability, and to tell stories that inspire viewers through design, materiality, aesthetics and staging.
“It is always great to learn about the artist’s ideas through their own words, but as a curator I am looking for the artwork to be able to tell its own story and to inspire readings from its viewers directly – this is a sign of great art.”
For tickets, click here.
