BACK DUE TO DEMAND - PROGRAM STARTING NOVEMBER 2026 - MARCH 2027

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WYNDHAM CITY COUNCIL

Tapestry of Culture: Wearable Art & Fashion

Incubator Program FOR THE

Melbourne Fashion Festival 2026 / 2027

Celebrating cultural diversity through fashion and exploring the rich tapestry of global style in Wyndham.

Wyndham Arts and Culture is partnering with Wunder Gym to present the Tapestry of Culture Wearable Art & Fashion Incubator program.   The program will support 20 creatives to develop and show a wearable artwork as part of the 2027 Melbourne Fashion Festival, runway event at the Immigration Museum, Melbourne.

The program runs over 21 weeks from Sunday 1 November 2026 until Sunday 29 March 2027. Participants will experience a jam-packed program learning from some of Melbourne fashion’s greats including presentations from fashion designers Jude Ng, Corin Corcoran, Baaqiy, as well as a presentation from Melbourne Fashion Festival Program Director, Sai Wai Foo.

The Tapestry of Culture Wearable Art & Fashion program is designed to showcase the beauty and significance of clothing across different cultures. Participants will have the opportunity to showcase their unique styles and narratives woven into every garment. 

We are inviting artists with a broad range of experience in different mediums and methodologies to submit an Expression of Interest. Twenty successful artists will be selected by a panel to participate in the 21-week program.

As with the Tapestry of Culture programming to date, Wunder Gym continues to support commitment to cultural sensitivity and respectful representation and build on journeys of exploration, appreciation, and celebration of cultural diversity through the universal language of fashion. 

Participation is free and includes a materials stipend to each artist to contribute to material costs.  Participants are required to commit to the entire programs' activities.

Online Information and Q & A sessions will be held on:

  • Sunday 13 SEPT 5–6PM 

  • Sunday 11 OCT 5–6PM

This program will result in a Wearable Artwork Runway Showcase TBC location in March, 2027.

EOI OPENING 29 JUNE VIA WYNDHAM WEBSITE

Incubator Program PRESENTERS INCLUDE

PRESENTER #1 – JUDE NG

JUDE is the namesake fashion label of designer Jude Ng, who uses his background in fine arts and his creative upbringing in Singapore to give an original voice to his fashion work. All Jude pieces are designed and handmade in Melbourne, Australia using an artisanal approach and respect for the traditional craft techniques of clothes making. Working from our retail space and open studio in the heart of eclectic Fitzroy in Melbourne, Jude & his small team are involved in the entire design process from start to finish. Favouring the use of quality natural fibres and traditional techniques reworked in a modern way, JUDE creates innovative lifestyle pieces in unconventional shapes which will go the distance in the wearer’s wardrobe.

PRESENTER #2 – CORIN CORCORAN

Corin Corcoran, a proud Weilwan woman based in Naarm, has been designing clothing for much of her life, having learnt to sew and upcycle clothing in her childhood out of necessity. She called on those skills again later in life when seeking an outlet for her mental health struggles and found catharsis in transforming damaged pieces of clothing into beautiful designs.

PRESENTER #3 – BAAQIY

BAAQIY, is an eponymous Melbourne-based fashion brand, founded by Australian designer Baaqiy Ghazali in 2022. Having embarked on her design journey at the Whitehouse Institute in 2022, Baaqiy swiftly captured attention within the fashion landscape. Her creations found a spotlight in esteemed publications such as Vogue Australia, Rolling Stone, and Jane Magazine, underscoring the brand's undeniable impact and influence. At the heart of BAAQIY is a commitment to being at the forefront of fashion, embracing a philosophy that is gender-exclusive, size-inclusive, and proudly locally made and sourced. The brand draws inspiration from a rich tapestry of influences, seamlessly weaving together elements from architecture, classical art, Baaqiy's Malaysian heritage, and avantgarde aesthetics. This fusion of diverse inspirations manifests in designs that are not just garments but intricate narratives.

PRESENTER #4 - Sai-Wai Foo

Sai-Wai Foo is a Malaysian-born Chinese, Naarm/Melbourne-based early-career artist. In addition to her art practice, Sai-Wai is a Programmer with the Melbourne Fashion Festival and leads the Independent Programme that highlights emerging designers, small-scale makers, graduates, and community organizations. The programme explores fashion’s role in today’s culture across workshops, exhibitions, performances, independent runways, screenings, talks, and beyond. She holds a BA(Hons.) in Fashion from RMIT University and her training in fashion design influences and informs her practice through technique, finish, and materials. Her work often explores place, belonging, and identity using repurposed materials, giving them a new life through her sculptural practice. Working primarily in paper and textiles Foo is a bricoleur who collects discarded and redundant items, deftly synthesizing them into new sculptural forms.

KEY DATES

1. Program Expressions of Interest (EOI) Open MON 29 JUN ’26

2. EOI Closes MON 19 OCT 11.59PM ’26

3. Program Information Sessions 2 x PROGRAM ONLINE INFO SESSIONS:  SUN 13 SEPT 5–6PM, and; SUN 11 OCT 5–6PM

4. EOI APPLICATION CLOSING DEADLINE MON 19 OCT 11.59PM ’26

5. Panel Selection THURS 22 OCT ’26

6. Participants Invited & Enrolled FRI 23 OCT ’26

7. Program Commences SUN 1 NOV ’26

8. Program Completed SUN 29 MAR ’27 (21 Weeks total delivery)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • No. Artists from all disciplines are encouraged to apply—visual art, sculpture, performance, textiles, digital, etc.

  • Not necessarily. While helpful, this program supports experimentation and learning, and garments can be constructed in non-traditional ways.

  • A wearable artwork is a piece designed to be worn on the body, but it may function more as art than conventional clothing. It can be sculptural, conceptual, or experimental.

  • · Key in-person sessions (approx. 1-3 hours each)

    · Independent making time

    · Light online engagement

    Expect a consistent but flexible commitment across 17 weeks.

  • Participation is free, and a materials stipend will be provided ($500 plus GST, if applicable paid via Wyndham City Council).
    This is a development opportunity rather than a paid commission.

  • Yes, but applications should be submitted individually.
    Collaborations can be discussed if selected and stipend will be a single payment ($500 plus GST, if applicable).

  • · Guest artist presentations

    · Feedback sessions

    · Peer support

    · Program facilitation and guidance

  • Final showcase will be part of Melbourne Fashion Festival 2027 (venue TBC).

  • · Applications reviewed by panel

    · 20 participants selected

    · All applicants notified of outcome

  • Yes. Participants are expected to commit to all key program dates, including in-person sessions, online check-ins, and the final runway presentation.

    This program is designed as a cohort-based experience, where each session builds on the last. Your presence is important not only for your own development, but for the collective learning, feedback, and support of the group.

    If selected, you are agreeing to prioritise the program across its full duration. We understand that unforeseen circumstances can arise, but participants should not apply if they cannot confidently commit to attending all scheduled sessions.

  • Yes—if selected, you will be required to submit:

    · A high-resolution headshot

    · A short bio (100–150 words)

    These will be used across program promotion, including social media, marketing materials, and Melbourne Fashion Festival communications.

    If you do not have a headshot, we will take these in the first in person event.

  • Your headshot should be:

    · Clear and well-lit

    · High resolution (minimum 1MB)

    · JPEG or PNG format

    You’re welcome to choose an image that reflects your creative identity—this can be professional or more expressive in style.

  • No. While the program culminates in a runway presentation, it is equally focused on:

    · Creative development and experimentation

    · Cultural exchange and storytelling

    · Building confidence in your practice

    · Engaging with a community of peers and mentors

    The process is just as important as the outcome.

  • This program is designed for creatives from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. We strongly encourage applications from:

    · Artists and designers from culturally diverse communities

    · Emerging or underrepresented creatives

    · Individuals interested in exploring identity, culture, and storytelling through making

    You do not need to fit a specific mould—diversity of perspective is central to the program.

  • From the very beginning of the program.

    This is not a program where the garment can be left until the final weeks. Participants are expected to progress their work consistently across the 17 weeks, bringing ideas, prototypes, and works-in-progress into sessions for feedback and discussion.

    The final speaker session includes a garment review milestone, and by this stage, your work should be well advanced, if not near complete. Leaving construction until the last minute will significantly limit your ability to benefit from feedback, refine your work, and meet the expectations of the final runway outcome.

    This program is best suited to participants who are ready to engage in an ongoing making process, test ideas early, and develop their work iteratively over time.