The Endless Garment: The New Craft of Machine Knitting

RESEARCH BACKGROUND The Endless Garment exhibition was part of the 2010 Melbourne Fashion Festival. The exhibition's aim was to examine the virtuosity and future possibilities of machine knitting and more broadly to explore the changing practices of contemporary fashion design. Through this work Healy and Bigolin sought to examine and challenge traditional practices of garment construction in order to demonstrate a diversity of form and detail, and the complexity of the design process. RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION The exhibition focused on emerging machine knitting practices and included a series of 'mini labs' to demonstrate how computerised knitting machines can produce original and experimental fashion design. The production techniques eliminate the labour-intensive processes of cut and sew methods and open up new creative possibilities for design. Gallery visitors were able to watch the technology in action and experience first-hand how it has revolutionised knitwear design and moved beyond the preconception of knitting as a handcraft. RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE The exhibition included highly innovative designs by international and Australian designers and reflected the diversity of design options. Many of the garments were made available to the public for the first time. It showcased work that was accessed from the archives of international contemporary designers and artists including Sandra Backlund, Walter van Beirendonck, Mark Fast, Freddie Robbins and Issey Miyake.