FABRIC OF LIFE FESTIVAL SUSTAY’N ALIVE
WINNERS
Congratulations to the winners and every single entrant.You were all amazing! What an absolute joy to witness such a kaleidoscope of imagination and craftsmanship come to life on the runway for the 2025 Fabric of Life Festival – Sustay’ n alive event. The fusion of sustainability and couture was breathtaking, each garment told its own story through texture, skill, creativity, and concept. From avant-garde upcycling to exquisite handwork, the artistry and technical finesse exhibited truly celebrated fashion as both expression and innovation. A vibrant reminder that creativity stitched with purpose can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Judges: Gail Higgins, Stacey Barnes, Connor Ovenden Shaw
Photographs by Janek Krause
OVERALL WINNER
Sue Ferrari -The Fabric of Us - model Loretta Gurnett
JUDGES COMMENTS:
This ethereal set was beautifully crafted and powerful in concept. It looked stunning with the lights shining through the fabric as it traversed the runway. Incredibly impressive in construction and technique, particularly the beautiful back detail - bravo!
Sue from the moment Loretta stepped onto the red carpet, the audience went silent, there was a clear connection to thread as language and connecting generations. As judges we were mesmerised by the beauty and elegance of your exquisite ‘ethereal’ garment, a transcendent work of textile refined, evocative, and technically flawless. The perfect union of artistry, emotion, and light. What impressed me the most was indiscreet story telling of thread, a language to be continued.
Maker and Model getting ready.
CLEVER CONSTRUCTION
Winner: Karen Richards -Are you hot enough yet? model David Richards
JUDGES COMMENTS:
Karen used bold silhouettes and difficult techniques to convey a powerful message about overconsumption and its effect on the planet in a really interesting way.
Upcycled, recycled and sustainable fashion at its best, striking, sculptural, and conceptually bold, marrying powerful messages with impeccable craftsmanship. Karen cleverly combined bold consumer statements and difficult construction techniques to convey a compelling message about overconsumption and its effect on the planet in a creative and almost confronting way. David strutted the catwalk overheating as a symbolic message for global warming and sending a clear message of consumer buyer X’s five!
CLEVER CONSTRUCTION
Runner up:Niamh Sutherland -Weaved into a Dream
JUDGES COMMENTS:
A fun, striking 4-piece set, beautifully made from bedsheets and turned into something playful and almost circus-like with peekaboo elements and fringing... just a joy to see.
Congratulations Niamh, you creatively transformed ‘Oppy’ shop pre-loved sheets and doona covers into sustainable art fashion statements. Your whimsical and well-constructed outfit is a delightful interplay of movement and imagination. Your confidence on the catwalk highlighted your passion for weaving, construction, history, and experimental fashion. The judges were super impressed!
MAGNIFICENT DETAILING
Winner:Embroiderers Guild - Lady in Red model Kathy Jenkins
JUDGES COMMENTS:
Remarkably intricate and diverse, a real celebration of individuality within a cohesive, collaborative whole that became much more than the sum of its parts.
A unanimous decision by all judges! Every stitch shimmered with passion and precision featuring a masterclass in collective artistry and textile finesse, individual and collective. The elegance of Kathy’s red-carpet parade with arms outstretched and a gentle waltz down the catwalk invited viewers into the cloak making it both intriguing and curious. Congratulations to the Embroiders Guild members!
MAGNIFICENT DETAILING
Runner up: Christine Miller -Peter's Piece model Carrie Beth
JUDGES COMMENTS:
From couch to couture, this reimagination of upholstery fabric had beautiful movement and details and a sumptuous silhouette as the full circle skirt splayed out.
Christine created a sophisticated garment transformation from humble upholstery to runway radiance, rich in colour, elegance, detail, and refined seam stressing. An undefinable F.A.R.C (fix, alter, reuse, and create) garment, created and sewn with detailed precision. Stunning and totally worthy in every aspect!
ORIGINALITY AND CREATIVITY
Winner: Natalie Ryan -Hirsuit Her Suit
JUDGES COMMENTS:
A labour of love literally grown and sewn by the maker. Entirely unique and hugely personal with a wacky edge - the judges had never seen anything like it!
A true couture curiosity, bold, humorous, ‘hairy’ from the utterly fearless Natalie who excelled again. Anyone that collects their hair from haircuts over 36 years deserves recognition. This work blurs the boundaries between fashion and living sculpture and provides a narrative of a collecting a lifetime of hair. A standout statement winner!
ORIGINALITY AND CREATIVITY
Runner up: Claire Chatfield - Pop Art & Upcycling
JUDGES COMMENTS :
A decadent theatrical feast for the eyes with unusual choices of preloved materials... who would have thought of an oven mitt as the centre piece for a hat?
Claire highlighted being a true ‘bower bird’, collecting and combing colour and nostalgia. She made a statement of sustainable glamour with a ‘wink’ of playful excess and a unique use of a reflective necklace all connecting fashion, history, POP Art style, and creative sustainability. A truly worthy winner!
USE OF SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS
Winner: Ginny Murnane -Rainbow Exploration from Rubbish Explosion model Ash Rogers- Brigden
JUDGES COMMENTS:
A riot of colour and intricacy where the more you looked at the detail the more you were amazed at the materials salvaged and turned from trash into treasure. Amazing.
Congratulations Ginny, Ash you proudly exhibited an extravaganza of colour and glamour where the more we looked at the detail the more we were amazed at the materials Ginny salvaged and turned from trash into treasure. Your entry had the stunning rainbow ‘WOW’ factor and audience engagement being amazed at what could look like rubbish can look spectacular!
USE OF SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS
Runner up: Renee Allan -Bless you Dulcie
JUDGES COMMENTS:
The most delicate, lovingly embroidered heirloom handkerchiefs made this meaningful, retro piece really sing.
Renee your ‘sexy’ delivery on the catwalk captured the attention of us as judges and the audience. Overall, it was your detailed highly skilled textile craftmanship and sewing precision that impressed us (and hopefully Dulcie). The narrative of the handkerchief added to the aesthetic of nostalgia that complimented your overall design.
HEADDRESS WINNER
Jan Hill - Video Disco Fiasco model Lucy
JUDGES COMMENTS:
Seeing this futuristic little bug bound down the runway clad in crocheted VHS tape and shining CD/DVDs headdress bopping with joy just filled the judges with light.
Jan, we loved the title ‘Fiasco’ and your explanation, but more importantly we all treasured seeing Lucy, your granddaughter in your futuristic outfit paraded (skipped) down the runway with total ‘glee’ and confidence. She highlighted your crocheted VHS tape and shining CD/DVDs headdress ‘bopping’ along to the music with joy. Nothing to do with the headdress category, but we did also enjoy the ‘cheeky’ little glimpse of pink tulle under the VHS video tape. Lucy, you starred!
ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD
Lotti Dumesny-’Not Your Eden’
JUDGES COMMENTS:
The hand-painted and embroidered details on this simple yet effective linen dress juxtaposed with the dramatic performance of the model/maker and its powerful inspiration was like seeing floral flames lapping at the ankles of some ethereal goddess. Just beautiful.
Lotti we were impressed with your three elements: dress construction, machine embroidery, and hand painting. What really ‘wowed’ us was your connection to subject matter, your narrative, and the drama you presented on the catwalk. We awarded the encouragement award to you for uniting textiles, fashion, history, and narrative through blending both the Visual Arts with Performing Arts.
PEOPLES CHOICE
Bebe Ryan- Fatal Attraction
Like a majestic mermaid clad in the ocean's treasures, this set was a feast for the eyes and even sounded magical as the iridescent shells brushed against each other. Divine. It was voted a resounding winner by the audience.