Evening dresses

Research Background As with all industrial products, clothing is problematic from both environmental and social perspectives, impacting on the environment through production, use and disposal, while carrying a particularly high social cost through its reliance on manual labour by a globalized and fragmented workforce. What sets fashion apart from other industries however is its heightened role as an expression of cultural and social value. Special occasion women's wear is particularly culturally charged with its glamorous aesthetic and presentation in popular public forums such as the red carpet. These works explore the question of how can special occasionwear be an engaging exemplar that can be used to speak more generally about questions of waste, consumption and life cycle thinking. Research Contribution These works address the "one-off" nature of the special occasion genre by being designed to be returned to the designer after wear for repair and refashioning for the next wearer. The special occasion genre is furthermore used to raise awareness among a mass audience of the concept of sustainable fashion and also challenging preconceptions about the aesthetics of "eco" fashion. Research significance This exhibition aims to raise the profile of sustainable fashion in Sydney and furthermore, through an educational component to engage students visiting the gallery who are considering design careers on the importance of considering issues around sustainability as part of the design process.