The Campaign for Wool, as part of Wool Week 2013, kicked off this week with an artistic twist.
The Campaign for Wool, initiated by the Prince of Wales, aims to educate consumers about the benefits of wool and promote wool-predominant products to an international audience to help support and grow the wool industry.
The VIP launch party, on Thursday May 2, saw guests preview of an installation by textile artist Magda Sayeg, as part of the campaign's alliance with Sydney’s The Strand Arcade.
The 1,000-strong crowd enjoyed a range of one-night-only offers from the Strand Arcade’s retailers and were treated to glasses Chandon champagne, hot chocolates and snacks of roasted nuts.
The installation by Sayeg sees The Strand Arcade adorned by fibreglass trees which have been intimately wrapped in Australian Merino wool in this season’s striking winter colours.
Sayeg employed a colourful selection of over 600 metres of Australian Merino wool to complete the project, with the yarn partly provided by Nundle Woollen Mill which has one of Australia’s last working spinning wheels dating back to 1914.
The majestic trees, both standing six metres tall are to be positioned at the northern and southern end of the historic fashion shopping destination. Branching over some of Australia’s top fashion designers, the trees symbolise The Campaign for Wool’s commitment to educating consumers about the benefits of wool and Australian Merino wool’s everlasting unity and love affair with fashion.
As part of the partnership, The Strand Arcade will also present a Student Showcase of designs by Australia’s most promising design and textile students. Both Sayeg's installation and the Student Showcase will remain on show at The Strand Arcade until June 30.
Magda Sayeg is a textile artist who lives and works in Austin, Texas. Her work began as a way to take her knitting out onto the streets, graffiti style, starting a textile graffiti revolution that swept the world. Magda began working on larger projects and collaborations, pushing the boundaries of this textile graffiti street art form. Highlights of her early work include the knitting/crochet covered bus in Mexico City, as well as a solo exhibit in Rome at La Museo des Esposizione.
The Campaign for Wool was launched in 2010 and celebrates with countries on a global scale creating individual programmes of festivities to celebrate ‘Wool Week’ around the world.
The Strand Arcade’s partnership with The Campaign for Wool and celebration of Wool Week, which runs from April 29 to May 5, follows an aspiration to go ‘back to the source’ and highlight the use of Australian Merino wool in designer fashion.
To view more photos from the event, please go to ragtrader.com.au's Facebook page.