National Wool Museum recognised for sustainable fashion program

LESS than a month after being named Australia’s best regional museum, the National Wool Museum’s biennial We the Makers – Sustainable Fashion Prize program is in line to win two industry awards.

The We the Makers program challenges up-and-coming fashion designers from across the globe to create an original outfit that represents both their personal design aesthetic and showcases a commitment to sustainable fashion.

It is the only sustainable fashion prize offered in Australia for emerging designers with less than 10 years of industry experience, aligns with Geelong’s UNESCO City of Design designation and champions the city’s ongoing role in the wool, fibre and textile industries.

The program has now been recognised by the Australian Museum and Galleries Association (AMaGA) with nominations in both its coming national and Victorian awards.

In the 2024 AMaGA National Awards, the We the Makers program is up for the Art of Expression Award, which recognises excellence and outstanding achievements in the visual and communicative aspects of promoting museums, galleries, or cultural institutions.

Meanwhile, in the 2024 AMaGA Victorian State Awards, the program has been shortlisted for the Medium Sized Project of the Year Award.

This award recognises and celebrates excellence across the sector and is presented to organisations that support and strengthen the state’s creative and cultural industries through outstanding work and a commitment to best practice.

Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan said the nominations highlighted the outstanding work of the National Wool Museum team.

“The National Wool Museum was recently named the Wotif Uniquely Aussie best regional museum, and these two new nominations further emphasise why that is the case,” he said.

“The curators and exhibitors have done an incredible job with the We the Makers program, so it is pleasing to see their work being recognised.”

National Wool Museum director Padraic Fisher said the program and other museum exhibits were clearly leaving an impression.

“Our calendar year-to-date visitation numbers have seen a spike of 10 per cent across the past year, and the financial year-to-date increase is at 20 per cent.

“So, combined with the nominations we have received on the back of the Wotif Uniquely Aussie best regional museum award, it shows the exhibits we host here are hitting the right mark with the public.”

The AMaGA national awards will be presented on Tuesday, September 17, while the Victorian awards will be held on October 1.