Wearable Wonder with Australian Wearable Art Festival
Want to feel inspired to be more creative? The Australian Wearable Art Festival is an unforgettable experience that will light a fire inside you and prove you don’t have to be a professional artist to live a creative life, discovers Rebecca Jamieson Dwyer.
Nurses. Firefighters. Architects. Students. You might assume everyone taking part in the Australian Wearable Art Festival are professional artists who’ve been honing their craft for many years – but in fact, some of them are people with no previous wearable art experience who decided to ignore the negative voice in their head and JUST. START. MAKING. SOMETHING.
Whether it’s writing a book, creating culinary masterpieces, getting into painting, sculpture, dancing, singing or something completely different, we all have an area of life where we’d like to be more creative. And the Australian Wearable Art Festival co-founder Helen Perry said that she hopes the show will inspire people to take the leap to do it.
“It’s all about using that other side of your brain and stretching that creative muscle, whether it’s something as small as cooking dinner more creatively or reading a bedtime story to your child a bit differently,” she said. “Creativity is something we could all do with a little more of in our world.”
The 2025 Australian Wearable Art Festival from 8-9 August, promises to be bigger and better than ever, with an additional show, extra categories and more theatrical lighting and production values, making it a not-to-be-missed date on the creative calendar.
It’s also flying high thanks to a partnership with Sunshine Coast Airport, cementing the event’s role as a major attraction for the region and proving that the Sunshine Coast is now being recognised for its world-class arts scene.
Take your sister, take your bestie, take your partner, take your mum, and get ready to be swept up in a fantastical world, where surreal, shape-shifting, shimmering wearable art comes to life on the iconic 27-metre catwalk and there’s deep meaning to be discovered behind each of the visual stories.
This year’s additional show is a preview performance that’s significantly more affordable than the other three shows to enable people who’ve never been before to be part of the magic.
“We’re inviting fashion students, not-for-profits and anyone else who might not have the budget for the Friday Night, Saturday Matinee or Saturday Gala Award shows to come along at a reduced price – it’s our gift back to the community,” Helen said.
Alternatively, if you want to experience maximum buzz and glamour, the Saturday Gala Award Show is the event for you, where even the audience is dressed to impress, the drinks are flowing, the prizes are awarded, and the atmosphere is unrivalled!
This is always a sold-out event and VIP tickets have already been snapped up, so grab your tickets quick before they’re gone – you won’t regret it.
We already know we’ll be seeing incredible creations on the catwalk, but we might just see them from the judges too, as this year’s panel features the inimitable artists Rachel Burke (aka @imakestagram) – the Brisbane-based, colour-loving artist, designer and author; Natasha Smith who’s the Director Curatorial of United Artist Projects (UAP); the Board Chair for contemporary arts non-profit Outer Space, and has masterplanned and curated art for cities and community spaces across Australia, the Middle East, Asia, the Americas and Europe; and Svenja, a celebrated textile artist known for her vibrant use of colour, rich textures and nature-inspired creations that have earnt her six World of Wearable Art awards!
“We’ve followed the work of all of our judges for many years, and know they will each bring their unique perspectives from their rich creative processes, offering wisdom, empathy and inspiration to all our entrants,” Helen said. “The standard is extraordinarily high this year, and we’re excited to discover who will be crowned the Supreme Winner!”
For 2025, the popular Trashion and Avant Garde categories will be joined by Elements of Nature and Abstract Form, and there will be additional awards for Innovation, Sustainable Nature, Textile and Fibre, People’s Choice, and of course, the Supreme Winner.
“Sustainability is a huge focus for us. Avant Garde and Trashion have been our two most popular categories in the past, but now we also have Elements of Nature that is inspired by earth, air, fire and water and is perfect for the entrants working with foliage or natural fibres,” Helen said.
“Then we’re also adding Abstract Form, which is really stepping away from the human form. Yes, it’s a person moving it down the runway, but it’s not a dress – it’s a sculpture of its own. And we have some amazing pieces on show in this category.”
Entrants aged between 16-25 will automatically be in the running for the Youth Award, and entrants who are experimenting with wearable art for the first time will be entered for the Emerging Wearable Artist Award.
“We want to nurture young talent and help people get out of their creative comfort zone,” Helen said.
“We applaud all our artists for embracing their creative calling and taking part, and we hope it’s a rewarding experience for everyone involved.”
It’s certainly sure to be an impressive experience from the audience’s point of view, with the long catwalk, theatrical lighting, professional choreography and hair and makeup, and sense of occasion all creating a vibe that’s positively crackling with energy and excitement.
“This is an immersive, intimate experience where you get to meet the artists during the interval, chat to them about their creative process, and have your picture taken beside the wearable art – it’s very easy to engage and connect with it,” Helen said. “Most people who come to our shows wouldn’t describe themselves as an artist, but they’re fascinated by the creativity involved, and will ask ‘how did you sew all those beads together’ or ‘how did you come up with the idea of using Nespresso pods?’
“Much of the work on display is so surreal and unexpected that being around it really sparks that creative side of your brain – and that’s the feeling we want to inspire.”
The Supreme Winner for the past two years in a row, Bella Cameron, is taking a break from entering the show this year, and is instead donating her time to help mentor the next generation of rising wearable art stars.
“Bella epitomises why we do this,” Helen said. “She had never created wearable art before and doubted whether she could actually do it or not, but then taught herself crochet and went on to win two years in a row! Now she’s volunteering her time independently of us to help others feel more confident about their process and creations, and will be backstage on the night offering her support. It’s a truly beautiful community.”
Book your tickets now and get ready to be swept up by the wonder of the Australian Wearable Art Festival! You never know, it might just change your life.
Wearable Art with Heart!
Don’t miss the creative magic of the Australian Wearable Art Festival, 8-9 August 2025.
Preview Performance – Fri 8 August, 1pm
Friday Evening Show – Fri 8 August, 7pm
Saturday Matinee – Sat 9 August, 12noon
Saturday Gala Award Show – Sat 9 August, 6.30pm
Tickets start from $65. Visit www.australianwearableart.com.au for more details and for tickets.
