Turning recycled materials into runway spectacle

At a time when global fashion is increasingly dominated by mass production, micro-trends and clothing designed to last little longer than a social media cycle, the Australian Wearable Art Festival (AWAF) is asking audiences to slow down, rethink what they wear, and fall back in love with creativity.

Now entering its sixth year, the Sunshine Coast event has evolved from a grassroots creative experiment into Australia’s premier wearable art festival - helping put the region on the map as an unexpected leader in artistic innovation, sustainability and contemporary culture.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said the Sunshine Coast was a place where artistry and sustainability intertwine, offering the perfect backdrop for this remarkable festival. 

“The Australian Wearable Art Festival showcases exceptional talent, and on top of that - the bold thinking and craftsmanship that drive our creatives across the Sunshine Coast,” Mayor Natoli said.

“Our beautiful region, both the people and the natural environment, inspires innovation and original expression in so many forms.

“I hope everyone takes the chance to immerse themselves in the entire experience – from the spectacular runway presentations to exploring our vibrant local arts scene.”

Hosted for the first time at Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort’s Convention Centre the unique one-day event continues to attract artists from across Australia and internationally who transform salvaged textiles, industrial waste, recycled plastics and discarded materials into large-scale wearable artworks.

Sustainability doesn’t have to be beige

AWAF Director Wendy Roe said wearable art offered something increasingly rare in mainstream modern fashion - authenticity.

“Even though we have a runway, this is not a fashion festival. It is part sculptural art exhibition and part creative protest against disposable culture, with more than 80 per cent of participating artists incorporating recycled, salvaged or repurposed materials into their works,” Ms Roe said.

Australians send an estimated 200,000 tonnes of clothing to landfill every year. Globally, the fashion industry is responsible for around 10 per cent of carbon emissions, with one garbage truck of textiles dumped or burned every second.

“We are asking our audience to imagine something radically different: what if clothing was treated not as disposable, but as art? Artists transform abandoned plastics into couture, industrial waste is reborn as armour and vintage fabrics are reimagined into theatrical silhouettes,” Ms Roe said.

While major fashion capitals wrestle with overproduction and waste, regional Australia is emerging as an unexpected leader in experimentation and material innovation.

“Creative disruption doesn’t only come from Paris or New York; it can come from communities willing to question the system. The Sunshine Coast has this incredible blend of creativity, entrepreneurial spirit and lifestyle, and audiences here have really embraced bold artistic experiences.”

“Sustainability doesn’t have to be beige - it can be spectacular.”

Introducing the 2026 judging panel

Adding to what is already attracting world-wide attention, the event has announced one of its most prestigious judging panels to date, led by Australian fashion icon Linda Jackson AO, Katie Somerville from the National Gallery of Victoria and internationally recognised wearable artist RR Pascoe.

For those familiar with Australian fashion history, Linda Jackson AO needs little introduction. Alongside creative partner Jenny Kee, Jackson helped redefine Australian fashion in the 1970s through unapologetically bold designs inspired by the Australian landscape, native flora and a fiercely independent creative spirit.

“Wearable art is one of the most exciting forms of creative expression because it allows artists complete freedom to imagine beyond the boundaries of traditional fashion,” Ms Jackson said.

“I’m looking forward to seeing works that are courageous, unexpected and deeply personal - pieces that tell a story, evoke emotion and reveal something of the artist’s unique way of seeing the world. Wearable art also invites us to look at materials differently, not as waste or excess, but as possibility.”

RR Pascoe’s internationally recognised practice has long championed sustainability, DIY culture and artistic accessibility. A five-time finalist and four-time award winner at the World of WearableArt Awards Show, her work transforms recycled and unexpected materials into highly sculptural wearable pieces.

Meanwhile, Katie Somerville brings more than three decades of curatorial experience from the National Gallery of Victoria, where she has led major exhibitions including Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse, The House of Dior: Seventy Years of Haute Couture and the recent Westwood | Kawakubo exhibition - helping cement fashion’s place within major cultural institutions.

The addition of these three highly respected judges only adds to AWAF’s growing national and international reach, reflecting a broader shift in audience attitudes - particularly among younger generations increasingly demanding transparency, sustainability and individuality.

“People are craving creativity again. They want authentic experiences that feel bold, emotional and human,” Ms Roe said.

The festival’s 2026 program continues to build on this momentum - positioning wearable art as both artistic expression and environmental provocation - because if fashion helped create the problem, creativity may help solve it.

The 2026 Festival will feature more than 40 national and international artists, immersive activations, collection showcases, artist demonstrations and expanded hospitality experiences as AWAF enters a bold new era at Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort.

Event Details

Australian Wearable Art Festival
When: Saturday 11 July 2026 - two shows at 1.00 pm and 7.00 pm
Where: Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort’s Convention Centre

The Australian Wearable Art Festival is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland. Sunshine Coast Council is the official destination partner for the Festival. The Festival would also not be possible without key partners including Visit Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast Airport, Coastline MINI Garage, Fresh PR & Marketing, St Andrews Anglican College, Hello Sunshine and In Noosa Magazines, My Weekly Preview, Textile Fibre Forum, 92.7 Mix FM, Horse & Water and Converge Marketing.