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MELBOURNE
BRUNSWICK
BUNDOORA
FISHERMANS BEND
POINT COOK
HAMILTON
HO CHI MINH CITY
HANOI
Stitching together the history of tailoring in Melbourne
Fashion lovers can trace Melbourne’s tailoring history through seven installations in
the CBD and inner-city suburbs created by RMIT University students for Mapping
the Tailor, as part of the L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival Cultural Program.
Tailoring toiles and visual diaries created by seven second-year Bachelor of
Design (Fashion) students will be on display in tailoring and retail establishments
from 15 to 21 March.
The students mapped the tailors of Melbourne over the past 150 years as part of
an ongoing research project managed by Sue Thomas and Peter Allan – fashion
lecturers in RMIT’s School of Architecture and Design – which will contribute to the
RMIT Design Archives long-term project, Mapping Melbourne Design.
“Mapping of the Tailor is a celebration of Melbourne’s rich tailoring histories and
the creativity of its future designers,” Ms Thomas said.
“The students started their research in the Sands and McDougall street and trade
directories and the map bags at the State Library of Victoria, later walking the main
streets of their assigned suburb and documenting their findings.
“The research revealed a snapshot of tailoring businesses, including the influences
on the craft of tailoring in Melbourne, such as the European post-war diasporas.
“The students also gained an appreciation of the skills and expert craftsmanship of
the remaining select group of seasoned tailors.”
An installation of maps, technical samples, pockets, fabric maps and tailoring
equipment that form the legend to Mapping of the Tailor is in the display case at Mr
Tulk café (State Library of Victoria), curated by two students.
Other installations are at Henry Bucks (45 Collins Street, Melbourne), American
Tailors (68 Bourke Street, Melbourne), Nicola Ricci Tailor (108 Rathdowne Street
Melbourne), G Galalti (198 Elgin Street, Carlton), Pinnacle Clothing (33 Johnson
Street, Collingwood), Melbourne Tailoring, (2c Brunswick Road, Brunswick East).
The students and staff of Fashion, School of Architecture and Design, RMIT
University would like to thank the tailors of Melbourne, Mr Tulk café and staff of the
State Library of Victoria for their interest, patience and generous support.
Media Note: Student Helen Pappas (0437 257 780) has tailors and associations
with Flinders Lane in her family history. Her work can be seen at G Galalti.
For interviews, comment or to arrange a photo opportunity with students:
Sue Thomas, (03) 9925 2748 or sue.thomas@rmit.edu.au.
For general media enquiries: RMIT Media and Communications, Gosia
Kaszubska, (03) 9925 3176 or 0417 510 735.
12 March, 2010
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