The hot months are here – Buath gurru, Tussock Grass season. This is the last issue of the Houndstooth for 2019, a special collaborative issue put together by Harriette Richards, Zara Piles, Angela Armstrong and Julie Macindoe.
This month senior Lecturer in Fashion and Textiles, Dr Rebecca van Amber, shares her recent trip to the US; the RMIT Association of Fashion and Textile Students (RAFTS) held a natural dyeing workshop; the School of Education visited Brunswick for a Possum skin cloak workshop; we congratulate students who recently presented at the PRS; and we check in on the Garden, whose team members were recently awarded a bronze medal in the Green Impact Award hosted by RMIT Sustainability.
American University Visit
In October, Dr Rebecca van Amber flew to the US to visit four Universities to learn about teaching sustainable innovation and textile development and she shared some of her insights with us:
“Over the course of six days, I visited Drexel University’s Center for Functional Fabrics, where I gave a presentation about my research and some of the work we’ve been doing on our new courses here at RMIT. I also learned how widely read Dr. Jenny Underwood’s thesis is! I then had a chance visit to the Fashion and Textile Futures Center at Jefferson University, and was in awe of their fantastic knitting and weaving facilities. I presented again at Cornell University, liasing with Dr. Juan Hinestroza at the Textiles Nanotechnology Laboratory at Cornell University. And finally I had another last minute visit to meet with Deb Johnson, the founder and executive director of the Brooklyn Fashion + Design Accelerator at the Pratt Institute in NYC! It was a jam-packed trip but a fantastic opportunity to see what is happening stateside.”
RAFTS Club Event
Friday 18 October
The RMIT Association of Fashion and Textiles Students (RAFTS) is a student association aiming to build a community for undergraduates, postgraduates, research and vocational students enrolled (or with an interest) in Fashion and Textiles. On 18th October, RAFTS held a Natural Dyeing Workshop with REMUSE, a Melbourne-based brand that uses artisan techniques, low-impact dye technology, and natural fibres to create art pieces. The idea behind this brand is to make small, ethically produced, trans-seasonal collections. Organisers Candice (Hsin-En Cheng) and Vera (Yuqing Tang) told us a bit about the event:
“The event started with a talk from Tamara, where she introduced the brand and the natural dyeing process. Tamara then led the students through a workshop, where they dyed a scarf with natural dyes.
Because of the different ways the students twisted the scarves, it created a variety of beautiful patterns and textures. At the end of the workshop, the students got take home their stunning hand-dyed piece to keep and wear.”
Practice Research Symposium (PRS)
Saturday 26 October
From the 23-27 October, the RMIT Practice Research symposium (PRS) was held at the Design Hub. Four PhD Candidates from the School of Fashion and Textiles presented progress reports on Saturday 26. Cecilia Heffer and Marni Stuart considered concepts of place in relation to their practice-based research, with Cecilia reimagining lace in response to transience and Marni exploring botanical observation in textile design, while Clarice Garcia speculated on the role of vintage clothing in the future and Julie Macindoe explored how people with visual impairments experience fashion. Congratulations to you all on your presentations!
Possum Skin Cloak Workshop
Wednesday 20 November
The School of Education visited Brunswick in November to hold a Possum skin cloak workshop, one of three workshops held across the three RMIT campuses, that invited people to learn about and contribute to reconciliation efforts through the process of making with important indigenous materials. Aleryk Fricker shared some insights with us:
“This is a project that has come from the School of Education’s deep commitment to reconciliation as well as efforts to embed Indigenous perspectives in the everyday experience of staff and students in the school. Over the next few years, the cloak will also act as a living cultural artifact and honour roll for the School of Education, holding our stories and successes, and firmly embed reconciliation as part of out everyday business.
With the help and expertise of Mitch, a proud Boon Wurrung man, and expert in Possum skin cloaks, we had over 60 staff, students, and their friends and family join us over the three days to cut, sew, burn, and paint the School of Education Cloak. Over the three day journey, we were able to share many yarns, stories, jokes, and reflections, and were able to come to know ourselves and how we can all better engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and knowledges. Not to mention the new sewing skills that many gained along the way.”
People from across the Brunswick campus community, from VE to Higher Ed to library and property services, all contributed to completing the cloak. A large part of the workshop was held outdoors in Waa Weelum under the gum trees, with crows singing in the background. Important to note: the key role the BBQ played in providing power for the burning instrument to create the patterns on the cloth!
Green Impact
Wednesday 30 October
At the Green Impact Awards Ceremony hosted by the RMIT Sustainability on 30th October, “The Composters”- made up of members of the Garden Committee at the Brunswick campus – were awarded a BRONZE medal! What’s more, they were also presented a Special Award for their extensive work in the Garden Studio. The morning tea event was a great opportunity to celebrate the initiatives of the many Green Impact teams from across the University.
Congratulations to the Melbourne winners “Team Awesome” and Overall Winners “Hanoi Big Team” and thanks to the RMIT Sustainability team, especially Hayley Cordes and Linda Stevenson for supporting this program.
‘Garden Studio’ Growings
It’s Buath gurru (Tussock Grass) Season. It’s warm. The Tussock Grass, Black Wattle and Coranderrk is in flower and there is fruit on the Kangaroo Apple. Bats catch insects and lizards and snakes are becoming active. The rains continue intermittently.
In the Brunswick Garden Studio, the blueberry canes are flowering and the lavender and foxgloves continue to bloom, attracting the bees. In exciting news, the seeds on the Swiss Chard and Angelica are drying, almost ready for harvest, and the sprinklers have been turned back on, ready to water the beds over the summer break.
We look forward to recapping the end of year events and celebrations in the first issue next year, so until then, have a safe and restful end to the year!
