Sustainable Couture is a flourishing network of Australian textile artists and designers,
passionate about creating distinctive eco-fashion and promoting sustainability
About Sustainable Couture
Sustainable Couture is a thriving network of Australia wide designers who have fused their skills to forge a unique approach to recycling, refashioning and reconstructing textiles.
Members have been creating one-off, edgy fashion designs, accessories and
homewares, as well as focusing community attention on
sustainability through the endless possibilities of recycling, upcycling, repurposing and reducing textile waste, since 2009.
The collective energy of the group is refreshed annually with new designers being invited to participate in the parade and pop-up shop or the return of past designers - the ebb and flow is managed by a core group of Sustainable Couture designers and makers
2023 Eco fashion Parade and Pop-Up Marketplace
Eco fashion Parade and Pop-Up Marketplace
Saturday 24 June 2023
Venue: Caterpillar Dreaming sculpture located in the
Araluen Cultural Precinct, 61 Larapinta Drive,
Alice Springs, NT
Marketplace of eco fashion and accessories opens 3.15pm
Pre Parade drinks and finger food will be available
Eco fashion Parade - Designers' collections hit the
runway at 4pm
This year designers and makers from the Northern Territory
and interstate will showcase their skills in recycling and
upcycling to create unique and distinctive garments and
accessories - all lovingly handcrafted and embellished
with techniques passed down through the generations
And there will be a Pop-Up Shop on Sunday 25 June 2023
You can browse the designers' amazing collections and buy
unique streetwear and accessories
Venue: Central Craft, Araluen Cultural Precinct,
61 Larapinta Drive, Alice Springs
Opening hours 10am - 2pm
GGGG
From Gail Hayes' stunning 1970s and 80s collection - exemplifying Choose well, buy less.
Models Nicola and Kate
Give a Frock
This year’s Sustainable Couture Parade and Marketplace, part of the Alice Springs Beanie Festival, will be a vibrant, fun-filled afternoon.
Our theme for this year – Give a Frock. Sustainable Couture certainly does… and has been sharing the fashion recycling message since launching one of Australia’s first eco fashion events in 2009.
This year’s theme is a nod to the 2009 theme which was Do You Give a Frock.
Our 10 designers will showcase their collections of innovative, fabulous new garments & accessories created from preloved pieces on the catwalk located in front of the fabulous Caterpillar Dreaming sculpture - located in the Araluen Cultural Precinct (Beanie Festival central) near Central Craft, ALice Springs.
Plus, there’s an abfab programme of recycling workshops to engage people at all levels of designing, stitching & sewing.
Click here for profiles of our designers, and explore our website for ways to reuse fabrics, and how to remake and refashion garments that have been hanging idly in your wardrobe. Once you become inspired to have a go you will find a world of new and irresistible possibilities…it can become quite addictive!
Give a Frock - buy less, wear preloved, wear it longer, swap and share clothing and…repair and restore what we have.
Philomena Hali and Franca Frederiksen
Sustainable Couture Founders
Co-instigator of Sustainable Couture and three-time recipient of ‘runner-up’ Wearable Art Awards, Franca is passionate about fashioning stylish garments from recycled and sometimes surprising fabrics.
Philomena is recognised nationally and internationally for her diverse work; her pieces are held in private collections, museums and galleries across Australia and overseas.
A long-time dressmaker and passionate about the environment, Carmel prefers to reuse and repurpose, and loves working with vintage pre-loved or found natural materials that 'come with a story’.
Design for a jacket made from an op shop blanket
Image courtesy of Franca Frederiksen, Sustainable Couture designer
Workshop Program 2023
Sustainable Couture is excited to be offering our 2023 workshop program
Workshops will be held at Central Craft in the Araluen Cultural Precinct, where local Sustainable Couture designers will tutor participants in practical ways to recycle textiles and clothing.
These will be held in the lead-up to the Opening Parade.
Stay tuned for further information on these workshops
Galleries
We thank our generous sponsors
for giving us the opportunity to develop our creative skills, contribute to a rich, innovative art, craft and design community and bring attention to the national discussion around our environment and the urgent need to reduce textile waste in landfill.