Jaziel Gibson wearing a design by QUT student Marco D’Ambrosio with artwork by Wanda Gibson. Photo: Supplied.
A fashion collaboration seven years in the making is helping Hope Vale community members of all ages feel proud to wear their culture.
Since 2018, the Hope Vale Arts and Culture Centre has worked in collaboration with the Queensland University of Technology’s (QUT) fashion department, bringing together students’ design skills with community Elders’ artistic prowess.
For the first time, QUT was able to bring students to Hope Vale to watch the artists work on their garments as they prepared for the 16 April community fashion show.
Centre manager Melanie Gibson said artists, students and faculty had met before, but that it was special to have them in community and show them the workspace.
“I actually felt proud that they came to our community and to our arts centre, and kind of see that we have so little, but such beautiful things come out of here,” she said.
Third-year student Lillian MacNevin said the community visit inspired her, and helped her feel the connection between clothing and art.
“It’s a very different experience learning about it online and learning about it from a teacher, versus coming here and meeting the artists, and hearing about the stories that the art actually comes from,” she said.
“Being able to interact with them is so special and so inspirational, and you feel more connected to, also, your own work by getting to know the artists personally.
“It’s almost like filling in the gaps of our garment and the story it’s telling through their stories and their experiences and artwork.”
Ms MacNevin said these kinds of meaningful collaborations could also help people understand the value and importance of clothing in a fast fashion era.
“I do think that a lot of people have no idea how much effort actually goes into the clothing we make,” she said.
“Having the importance of the art even without the garment, and then turning it into a garment, I think, shows that story and the importance of it, and how much work is put into the clothes from both the artists and the students.
“I think it also brings that awareness of how important art is; this is wearable art, and it creates that connection between clothing and art that I think we’ve lost.”
Throughout the week, the QUT team also visited Cooktown, working out of Country Universities Centre Cape York, and meeting young people at a local sewing class.
QUT pro vice-chancellor entrepreneurship and regional innovation Professor Rowena Barrett said the visit helped to break down barriers, inspiring local kids to think about various future pathways, and encouraging QUT students to step outside of their comfort zone.
“These young kids that we’ve been interacting with, they’ve talked to our students and heard about what they’re studying, and they’re interested in having a look at the university,” she said.
“For our guys, none of them have been up here, I think the furthest one of them have ever been was Cairns; they don’t know the stories of an Indigenous community like the one here in Hope Vale.
“It’s all about opening their eyes, breaking down barriers and making people feel comfortable with one another.”
The pieces made in this collaboration, along with some that were already made at the art centre, were modelled by Hope Vale’s youth during the fashion show.
“They were so proud to wear the dresses, and they came out of their shell, too, because some were shy,” Ms Gibson said.
“We also wanted boys on the runway, but we didn’t have any boys stuff left, so we put them in our T-shirts and hats, and afterwards, they asked, ‘can we keep our T-shirt?’
“I thought that was so lovely for them to want that T-shirt, and be proud to wear their Elders’ designs.”
Lecturer Lydia Pearson, Ruby Cowan, Lillian MacNevin, Marco D’Ambrosio, Ruby Moehead, Laura Morgan and Lecturer Icaro Ibanez Arricivita. Photo: Supplied.
