SYDNEY: A new fashion education facility and gallery space is set to launch to cater for emerging designers, dressmakers and fashion enthusiasts.
Called The Fashion and Textile Gallery, the facility will be run by Dreaming of Dior book author Charlotte Smith and artist and fashion educator Penelope Leonard.
A venture called the Sewing Room will host classes in fashion design, patternmaking, sewing, fashion drawing, embroidery, beading and knitting. A mix of one-off sessions and short courses will be offered for all levels of experience.
In addition to classes, The Sewing Room will offer for hire domestic and industrial sewing machines, industrial overlockers, a cutting table, pressing equipment and dressmaker's mannequins.
The gallery space will permanently house The Darnell Exhibition, a 5000 piece historical private clothing collection. A rotating programme of exhibitions will include Dreaming of Dior, a collection of 30 garments captured in Smith's book of the same name.
In March it will house History of Wool in Fashion, featuring wool garments from the 20th century. Pieces showcased will include designs by Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson, through to the winners from The Australian Wool Fashion Awards for 2010.
The centre in Surry Hills, Sydney, is due to open on January 29.