Step into the future of fashion and make your own experimental bag using mushroom mycelium materials and premium Japanese denim.
Lead by EMERGENCE[Y] designer Alia Parker, the session will unpack how we may adapt our wardrobe in preparation for climate change and the likely increase in fire events in both forested and semi-urban Australian landscapes. Mushroom mycelium (thevegetative, root-like component of fungi) has naturally fire-retardant and hydrophobic properties that, when grown into a material, canbe used creatively to make clothing and accessories.
No advanced sewing skills are needed. Using pre-cut pattern pieces and guided support, you’ll design and construct a functional bag to suit your own style. By the end of the session, you’ll leave with a one-of-a-kind bag you have made yourself, along with a deeper understanding of how experimental materials can shape more resilient futures for fashion.
Additional Event Information
Duration: 2 hours
Suitable for adults and young people aged 13 years and over. Young people aged 13-15 must be accompanied by an adult.
All workshop materials are provided, including fabrics and needles.
Small-group workshop format with assistance available throughout from the artist-facilitator.
Sessions run on the following dates:
Friday 23 October, 1pm–3pm
Saturday 24 October, 1pm–3pm
Ticket prices:
General Admission: $90
University of Melbourne Student: $50
Mob Tickets: $50
For University of Melbourne students who are experiencing financial hardship, please email us to discuss: mc-publicprograms@unimelb.edu.au
EMERGENCE[Y] brings together artists, scientists, and collaborators from around the globe to explore how we adapt to a world in flux.
About the artist
Alia Parker is a transdisciplinary designer and researcher. Her creative practice and scholarship is concerned with the intersection of contemporary design and science investigating the ethical, relational and material possibilities that arise when working with more-than-human organisms in design contexts. She often works with myco-remediating species of fungi and waste matter to explore themes and processes of repair, transformation and digestion. Alia is a lecturer at the ANU School of Art & Design, Canberra.