This 1-day workshop brings together budding designers, local crafters, and creative mentor Fran Fogarty of LilyMais, alongside the expertise of a number of local professional designers who will share insights through short, intensive 15-minute presentations. Participants will co-create a one-of-a-kind, hand-painted dress, exploring textile design, surface decoration, and storytelling through pattern and colour.
In keeping with a circular by design ethos, all fabrics used will be end-of-life textiles, repurposed to give new value and expression to materials otherwise destined for waste. The process highlights how sustainable practice can spark innovation, while collaboration across skill levels and generations embodies the theme “The ties that tie, and the links that link.”
By blending the fresh perspectives of students with the craft knowledge of amateur makers, enriched by professional guidance, the workshop demonstrates how creativity, sustainability, and community are deeply interconnected. The finished garment will be showcased at the close of the day, symbolising inclusivity and the power of circular design to inspire cultural and social change.
