Curtin University will bring the exciting world of high-tech fashion to life in a free one-off parade to launch its new Fashion Design and Research Hub.
The parade, Techno Fashion, is part of Perth Fashion Festival. It will be held at 3pm on Thursday 20 September at STM Fashion Central in Forrest Place in the unique Inflate Air Cube, an air filled eco-cube, which is making its first appearance as part of the Festival this year.
Anne Farren, Curtin University School of Design and Art Lecturer said the creations would showcase the new technology the University and local fashion industry now had at its fingertips, and challenge the way people thought about garments and how they were constructed.
“Just as technology has shaped the way we communicate and socialise with one another, so too has it shaped the future of fashion, with specialist machinery now able to assist in the conception, design and construction of garments,” Ms Farren said.
“Techno Fashion will have a high-tech and sustainable-tech focus, showcasing the possibilities of what can be created in the Hub, while also exploring traditional techniques and their relevance to contemporary design.
“As well as linking into national research the Hub will service the local WA fashion industry and allow designers and other users to access the revolutionary Shima Seiki WholeGarment® Knitting System, which produces knitwear in one entire piece, three-dimensionally, directly on the knitting machine, laser cutting facilities and a body scanner, to create more comfortable garments.
“The research that we’re doing tries to integrate technologies and recognise the value of not just new technologies, but those that have gone before, so we can move things forward taking the best of both worlds.”
The Fashion Design and Research Hub, only the second Hub of its kind in Australia, came out of a national initiative and will link in with the Council of Textile and Fashion Industries of Australia.
It will operate on a user-pays system and will also be available for use by Curtin design students.
Perth Fashion Festival runs 19 – 25 September and is supported by the Western Australian State Government through Eventscorp, the Department of Culture and the Arts and the City of Perth.
For further information regarding PFF 2012 program of visit www.perthfashionfestival.com.au
Contact:
Anne Farren, School of Design and Art, Curtin University
Tel: (08) 9266 2274, Email: a.farren@curtin.edu.au
Emma Bergmeier, School of Design and Art, Curtin University
Tel: 0401 800 829, Email: emma.bergmeier@curtin.edu.au
Kate Selth, Public Relations, Curtin University
Tel: (08) 9266 3353, Email: kate.selth@curtin.edu.au Web: http://curtin.edu.au
