We the Makers

The fashion industry has become one of the most unsustainable and unethical industries on the planet.

Can we keep making fashion while leaving a lighter footprint on the planet? How can we recognise and respect every single person involved in turning raw materials into clothing?

There are solutions. We can all start to think about the garments we wear – where they come from and the waste they create.

We the Makers is a triennial design festival showcasing the work of artists, designers and makers.

In 2020, we presented the Designer Showcase, featuring the work of 21 professional and emerging fashion designers from across Australia and around the world.

Designers were called upon to respond to the festival theme – Design for the future: sustainable and ethical textiles and fashion.

Sustainable fashion is about environmentally responsible design processes that are conscious of a number of factors, including the circular economy, energy reduction, recycling and minimal waste. Ethical fashion focuses on the fair treatment of people and animals at every stage of the supply chain.

With Design for the future as the provocation we asked all makers to respond in some way to the challenges we face as a global community of consumers.

The 21 artists featured are all designers for the future. But they are diverse grouping. And that is one of the most exciting parts of this exhibition. Solutions are not only possible, but it wears many different outfits.