Fashion Collab | Brisbane Festival
All images supplied by Ehud Joseph.
Celebrating the collaborative and community-based side of art and design, Fashion Collab was an exhibition that embraced diversity. Five mannequins were adorned with clothing created by participants, and many more in attendance wore their designs, creating the atmosphere of a live exhibition and fashion show. The clothing presented was developed through a series of workshops in collaboration with artists, including Ehud Joseph, Soraya del Castillo, Dr. Lenine Bourke, Annika Strand, Sophiaan Subhan, and Kristy Power. These workshops were open to all at no cost and designed to be safe, creative spaces for LGBTIQAX+ and neurodivergent communities and their allies. This accessibility meant the creatives involved were diverse in their lived experience, and this came through in designs celebrating what makes each individual unique.
The exhibition opening took place prior to The Stitchery Collective’s Bowerytopia, with the mannequins remaining on display for the entire evening. Bowerytopia is an annual event themed around the late Australian fashion icon Leigh Bowery. Many of the outfits created for Fashion Collab clearly referenced Bowery’s love of extravagant costumes. Masks were a common theme throughout clothing worn by both attendees and mannequins. Unlike many exhibition openings I have attended, Fashion Collab was not a formal and stuffy affair. The mood of the evening was one of community in which people could freely express their individuality. Clothing is a crucial element of self-expression, and the freedom in outfits, including masks, seemed to be a way for many in attendance to unmask and be themselves.
The static parts of the exhibition, the five mannequins, were curated by artist Annika Strand. As an artist living with Cerebral Palsy, Annika explores the beauty of nature, diversity, and freedom as she aims to create meaningful connections with her audience. Annika’s curatorial vision was clear at Fashion Collab. The identical mannequins were dressed in matching smocks and masks. These simple pieces of fabric were differentiated through their patterns, colours, and design. Through this unity, the artists were able to imprint their unique vision onto a blank canvas. The displayed outfits were collaborative, with artists and workshop attendees working together to create the striking pieces. The variety in designs was immense, ranging from a beetroot-inspired look to a smock covered in detailed drawings of faces and dancing figures topped with a rainbow mask.
The sense of community and joy present in Fashion Collab highlighted to me the importance of accessible creative outlets. Several participants I talked to emphasised the rarity of free and inclusive workshops. Everyone involved appeared to have benefited in some way through their participation, and I hope to see similar workshops and exhibitions in the future.
