Material Histories: Collision: Fashion and Fabrics

We live surrounded by material things. Some are mundane and utilitarian, others exotic objects of desire, but all our belongings have something to say about who we are and how we live. Objects reflect both culture and history. Individually and collectively, they shape our lives, link us to others and connect us to the past. Yet objects are often strangely absent from accounts of past lives. This seminar series aims to unpack some of the stories that objects can tell about the present and about the past.  We also hope to provide a forum for discussion for those of us interested in material histories. We aim to cast the net widely, with no limitations on either time or space.
How does fabric define a designer? Hartnell of Melbourne used expensive French lace in their winning design for the 1963 Gown of the Year, while Jenny Bannister’s use of recycled materials made her a counter-culture rebel! This talk will look at two eras of Melbourne fashion, the 1960s and the emerging youth market demanding modern styles, and the 1970s, a time of experimentation and a turn towards unconventional materials.
First speaker:
Gown of the Year 1963
Jess Curtain, Brighton Historical Society
It took 300 hours and 3,000 pounds to create, the imported French lace stitched by hand and embellished with thousands of glistening beads.