WILD and woolly designs will take centre stage at this year’s Perth Fashion Festival with the A Touch of Wool III show.
In a merger of agriculture, science and fashion, the WA Department of Agriculture and Food have partnered with Curtin University to supply student designers with wool from local producers, as well as access to new knitting technology – a machine called the Shima Seiki.
The department’s Sooyung Yang helps designers use the machine by translating their ideas into a format the machine can read.
The machine is the only one of its kind in WA and one of just five in Australia.
Curtin University fashion students Amy Clarke and Rebecca Timson are two of the designers who will showcase their woolly creations to Perth’s fashion elite.
Clarke said while this was the third Touch of Wool event – the first was in 2006 – it was the first time the idea had been taken from farm to catwalk.
Clarke’s line with design partner Amanda Murphy – Knot Knits – incorporates twisting and knotting, playing with the drape, floaty dresses and hand-dipped material.
She said none of the wool in her line had been knitted, and described the fabric as superfine and lightweight.
In contrast, Timson is a contemporary knitter who creates avant-garde, one-off pieces under her label Beq Design.
Timson described her work as modern and sculptural.
“I’ve manipulated the fabric and yarn in ways that have never been seen before,” she said.
“My line Beyond the Bounds is about looking beyond what you see when you see knitted wear – through the art of it and what’s within it.”
She said the project merged science and design.
“The wool donated from WA farmers is really awesome,” she said. “This fashion show is just so amazing.”
- A Touch of Wool III is on at Fashion Central, Forrest Place Murray Street Mall on Thursday, September 9, at 3pm. Entry is free.