Aboriginal Art Co. hosted a no-waste wearable art workshop at the weekend, bringing together weaving, fashion and Indigenous storytelling.
The Magpie Goose x Leece Carmichael workshop invited participants to transform fabric offcuts from past Magpie Goose collections into woven earrings and accessories at the organisation's recently acquired West End gallery.
Elisa Jane "Leece" Carmichael is a Ngugi woman of the Quandamooka People from Mulgumpin and Minjerribah, also known as Moreton Island and North Stradbroke Island.
Her practice draws on Ancestral knowledge, matrilineal connections and relationships with Country, with much of her work focused on weaving and cyanotypes.
Ms Carmichael guided participants through the process of cutting and weaving textiles featuring designs created by Indigenous artists from across Australia.
She said the workshop gave the leftover materials a new purpose.
"We did a workshop using the fabric offcuts, repurposing them from the Magpie Goose designs, which have been developed by artists all around the country," Ms Carmichael said.
"We repurposed the fabric by cutting them up and weaving them into earrings and accessories."
Participants finished the workshop with individual pieces carrying the stories represented in the original textile designs.
"The workshop has gone really amazing," Ms Carmichael said.
"Everyone who participated has got their own unique accessories with Magpie Goose stories on them that they can wear proud."
Magpie Goose is an Aboriginal-owned and led social enterprise that works with Indigenous artists to turn their designs and stories into clothing.
Ms Carmichael recently collaborated with the label on its Quandamooka collection through her Ungaire Reeds design, which reflects reeds woven by Quandamooka ancestors and still used for weaving on Country.
Ms Carmichael described fashion as another way for communities to carry and share those stories.
"It's really important for us mob to wear each other's designs so we can share our stories and Country loud and proud," she said.
"Magpie Goose is a platform for us to be able to share those stories with people who are interested in our garments."
Details about future events, exhibitions and workshops can be found on Aboriginal Art Co's website.
