New fashion award to celebrate beauty of natural fibres

An award to encourage designers with business aspirations to produce garments made with natural fibres will be a new feature of this year’s Henty Natural Fibre Fashion Awards.

The Business Development Award: Australian Made Fibre is a new award already creating excitement among designers and will be showcased at the 17^th annual Henty Natural Fibre Awards at the 2022 Henty Machinery Field Days.

Boasting prizes valued at around $5500, the fashion awards have grown into a prestigious event attracting high profile designers, with the 2022 entries to be paraded in the Country Lifestyle pavilion on September 20-22 at 1pm each day.

Awards convenor Lyn Jacobsen said the Business Development Award was creating excitement among designers with new entrants planning on participating.

The new award has been sponsored by JMP Developments, Wodonga, for $500.

 “Since the field days are located within a major wool and fibre producing region, it was important an event be carried on to encourage designers to showcase their creativity using the fibres allowed,’’ Mrs Jacobsen said.

“This competition is free and open to all designers, but the fabric in the garment must be at least 70 per cent natural fibre, which can be wool, cotton, alpaca, silk, linen or combinations.

“Garments are judged on visual appeal, creativity and innovation.’’

To be announced on the final day, the winner of the supreme garment made with natural fibres will receive $1000 in prize money plus a Bernina 325 sewing machine valued at $1499, courtesy of Bernina Australia and Sew Fab, Narrandera.

The winners of the best knitted or crocheted garment, millinery and accessory will receive $500 each sponsored by Fox & Lillie Rural and Henty Machinery Field Days. 

Bernina Australia and Sew Fab are donating a Bernete 44 Funlocker valued at $750 as an encouragement award for the best garment by a student designer.

“Designers may supply their own models, however, we do have Year 10 students from Billabong High School who are given modelling tuition leading up to this event,’’ Mrs Jacobsen said.

“We are expecting strong entries this year as many people sewed throughout the pandemic and it will be exciting to see their work.”

People interested in entering the awards can contact Lyn Jacobsen on 0428 690 222, email naturalfibre@hmfd.com.au or phone the HMFD office on (02) 6929 3305.