Artists from across Australia will join the who’s who of fashion at a special event that showcases wearable art with “wow factor”.
More than 40 works will be displayed on a 25m catwalk in a spectacular fusion of sculptural art and haute couture called the Australian Wearable Art Festival.
More than 1000 guests are expected at the fashion parade on May 21 at Venue 114, Bokarina.
Damien Anthony Rossi (pictured), also known as ‘Mr Hollywood in Oz’ is the Festival Ambassador.
The larger-than-life Brisbane media personality said he was excited for the event.
“Having been raised in a showbiz family in Tinseltown, the biggest night of the year was the Oscars and I loved watching the amazing outfits of celebrities on the red carpet,” he said.
“I actually still love watching all the Hollywood award nights, where every outfit is anticipated and critiqued and I particularly love the celebrities who shock and stun us with their daring outfits – who could ever forget Lady Gaga and her infamous meat dress.”
“I know that with the high calibre of artists and designers involved, this year’s Australian Wearable Art Festival is going to give us a taste of this fabulous finery and treat us to something very special.”
Mr Rossi has been involved in the fashion industry for more than two decades.
He has his own fashion events such as the Rossi’s Oscars, an event that ran for more than 20 years and raised more a quarter of a million dollars for charities.
He also produced the celebrated ICON fashion event for Brisbane’s Treasury Hotel and is the long-term Fashion Ambassador for the Brisbane Racing Club.
“I love how the Australian Wearable Art Festival is supporting the wealth of talented artists and designers that we have both in Australia and internationally and giving them this incredible creative platform,” he said.
Event Curator Wendy Roe said that Mr Rossi is a great asset to the event, welcoming guests as MC alongside Mix FM’s radio announcer Sami Muirhead.
“We have artists coming from Karnup in Western Australia to Kureelpa in Queensland and we also excited to be hosting acclaimed international wearable artists from Argentina, United States, Singapore and New Zealand,” she said.
The festival will be held for the first time since 2019, after it was impacted by COVID.
“Due to the show being postponed for two years, artists have had lots of extra time working in their studios to fine tune their pieces, ensuring the runway will come alive with everything from beautiful fresh flowers, repurposed coffee pods, bottle tops and fruit and vegetable packaging,” she said.
“For the uninitiated, expect the wow factor – a fusion of Met Gala Ball meets Paris Fashion Week and everything in between.”
The four main categories include Avant Garde, Trashion, Sustainability and Floriana and it will be a hard decision for the three judges to pick the ultimate winners.
Previous judge and acclaimed Sydney-based wearable artist Peter Dwyer, Australia’s Fashions on Field darling Mildred Ellwood and the Sunshine Coast’s own haute couture specialist Judy Copley will be judges.
Ms Ellwood is well-known as a judge and entrant in Fashions on the Field racing events across Australia and has long had a passion for creative self-expression through fashion.
“My love affair with fashion and the arts began as a little girl in Zambia where I grew up intently watching my grandmother make beaded bracelets and tribal necklaces, and my uncle, who weaved baskets from a range of natural fibres including grass, sisal, raffia and banana leaves,” she said.
“The concept of the Australian Wearable Art Festival reminded me of these childhood memories where creativity and exploring identity through wearable art was so important.”
“As a young African woman living in Australia, it has been important for me to embrace my culture’s traditional values when it comes to style and I am inspired by ethical and sustainable fashion.
“The Trashion and Sustainability categories have piqued my interest as I love creating outfits from found objects and spend hours scavenging for beautiful recycled fabrics and accessories in op shops.”
The Australian Wearable Art Festival has expanded to two shows this year, a matinee starting at 1pm and the Gala Show where winners will be announced from 6pm.
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Guests will be welcomed to a festive courtyard at Venue 114, where a range of food and beverages will be available for purchase from food trucks and a pop-up bar.
Ms Roe said guests will be immersed in a world of wearable art.
“It has always been important for us to introduce the artists so the audience can better understand the hours of work often involved in creating these pieces,” she said.
“There will be lots of opportunities to get up close and personal with the artwork and the artists and hopefully be inspired.”
The event is supported by Sunshine Coast Council, Fresh PR & Marketing, Queensland TAFE, Sunshine Plaza, the Proost De Deyne family, Mix FM, Diablo Ginger Beer, Horse & Water and Converge Marketing.
Tickets start at $50 and the gala event tickets start at $75. To purchase a ticket or find out more visit Australian Wearable Art Festival.
