non(COMBUSTIBLE) CLOTHING

Would you wear fungi to protect yourself in a fire?  

Imagine clothing that not only looks good but also helps protect you from fire. This project prototype explores garments made from mushroom mycelium and cotton textile waste and indigo-dyed denim, combining style with sustainability. Mycelium is naturally fire-retardant, hydrophobic and compostable – making it a perfect material in times of emergence[y]. As climate change increases fire risks, it’s crucial to rethink our relationship with materials. Can fashion help us adapt to a warming world while nurturing our environment? Step into these innovative prototypes (literally – there are samples to try on as part of this installation) and consider how they might fit into your daily life. 

Dare to wrap yourself in the future of fashion? 

BIOGRAPHY

Alia Parker is a transdisciplinary designer and researcher at the ANU School of Art & Design. Her practice focuses on the intersection of design and science investigating the possibilities that arise when working with more-than-human organisms in design contexts. Alia’s bio-design uses experimental methodologies in textiles, fashion, biology, installation and moving image, philosophies of care and biosemiotics. She often works with fungi and end of life cotton to address themes of repair and transformation in times of ecological precarity.  

Pattern and garment fabrication: Imogen Keen 

Photography credit: Phoebe Powell

SHELLEY Matulick