Twenty-three fashion design students from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and TAFE NSW’s Fashion Design Studio (FDS) repurposed 250 imperfect shirts from M.J. Bale for a joint exhibition.
Titled ‘Deconstructed Realities: The Art of Reworking Fashion’, the joint exhibition was unveiled at TAFE Ultimo this week. It featured a selection of upcycled garments that were part of a student project initiated by the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Fashion + Textiles - a partnership between TAFE NSW and UTS Sydney, and M.J Bale.
For the last several weeks, students worked on the concept and design, transforming the shirts into high-fashion pieces while learning about circular fashion and waste reduction.
Over 160 students took part in the project overall, giving the 250 shirts that were destined for landfill a second life. Twenty-five students were then selected to exhibit their reimagined creations in front of industry guests.
Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Fashion + Textiles director Dr Lisa Lake said educating young designers about sustainability from the outset of their careers is crucial.
“It's not just about creating eco-friendly garments; it's about instilling a mindset of circularity that considers the entire lifecycle of fashion,” Dr Lake said. "To truly address fashion sustainability, we need a collaborative effort where industry, education, and research innovate together in diverse and unexpected ways.”
According to Seamless, Australia’s clothing product stewardship scheme, Australians buy 53 new clothing items annually, equivalent to the United States.
In 2023, we sent 220,000 tonnes of clothing to landfill, the equivalent weight of almost four Sydney Harbour Bridges.
First-year TAFE NSW Ultimo Bachelor of Fashion Design student Gabriella Ribeiro (pictured) was one of the designers chosen for the final exhibition.
She said the project showed her how important it is to keep sustainability at the forefront of the design process.
“In redesigning the shirt, I wanted to explore a bohemian and utilitarian shape,” she said. “Using sustainable practices, I incorporated dead stock and upcycled fabrics to create a youthful and relaxed design inspired by Vanessa Bell who was part of the Bloomsbury Group.
“Attached to the bodice is a puff style sleeve with honeycomb smocking. I cut up the shirt into strips and crocheted it to create a ruffled sleeve with wool yard for the base of the sleeve.
“I took the shirt’s button placket, shirt cuff, and collar and pleated it, so it stuck into the ruffle sleeve. I then created embossed designs along the sleeve to create a sense of deconstructivism – similar to a Frank Gehry’s building design.”
TAFE NSW Fashion Design School head teacher Laura Washington said it has been a rewarding experience collaborating with M.J. Bale and UTS to prepare the next generation of fashion designers with essential skills for a circular fashion industry.
“The shift toward a more circular fashion future requires collaboration between educational providers and industry,” Washington said. “By working together we can increase our impact, share resources, knowledge, and expertise.
“Offering hands-on experiences equips our students with essential skills in design innovation, cutting-edge technology, upcycling, and artisan craftsmanship—skills that will help shape the future.”