The Geelong Wool Museum in Victoria has launched its biennial sustainable fashion exhibition, We The Makers.
More than a hundred and fifty entrants from over 13 countries entered the 2025 Sustainable Fashion Prize competition, with the exhibition comprising the top 20 finalists.
The exhibition, which runs till November, kicked off over the weekend with an opening night party and award ceremony.
The $10,000 Designer of the Year award was given to Shiva Yousefpour for UNBOUND by SHIYO, Isobel Hyland received the Mayoral Award for her Pivot City Punk design and Sherry Johnstone was granted the ARC Research Hub for Future Fibres Innovation Mentorship for her work, Coastal Country.
Voting for the UNESCO City of Design People's Choice award, which will see the winner receive $2000 in prizemoney, is open now.
The exhibition and awards were done in partnership with Godfrey Hirst, who designed a bespoke carpet for the exhibition space, Deakin University and the City of Geelong Council.
Speaking with Azzet, Hyland says it was “particularly special” to win the Mayoral award in her home town.
"It's such an honour to be part of this exhibition and the National Wool Museum has done phenomenal work bringing so much talent together in one place. Sustainability is such an important issue in the fashion industry, and I hope this exhibition inspires people to find new ways to incorporate sustainability into their wardrobe," she says.
“My piece 'Pivot City Punk' is inspired by the 1850s wool trade in Geelong which I brought to life by repurposing vintage kilts and deadstock tartan, evoking the punk tradition of DIY fashion and self expression.”
We The Makers is open now and running daily at the Geelong Wool Museum until 30 November.