Sydney Craft Week
Material Intelligence: Sustainable Textiles Symposium
Join us for the inaugural MTNS MADE Sustainable Textiles Symposium - a dynamic gathering of industry leaders and emerging voices in sustainable fashion and textiles.
We welcome Julie Paterson (Cloth) hosting an ‘In Conversation’ with Jane Milburn OAM (Textile Beat), Robert Inshaw (Summit Gear, Whippa), and Jessica Leslie (Koskela), alongside a new generation of makers. Together, they’ll explore how we can build a more ethical, sustainable textile industry, locally and beyond. A Q&A will follow, featuring physical examples and maker presentations.
Experience Demonstrations by local artisans and create your own MTNS MADE t-shirt, gaining insight into conscious making. Julie Paterson will also pop up her trailer, ‘Roly’. Purchase ClothFabric materials and products and join an informal stitch in to contribute to the Menindee Memorial Loop Project.
Event Saturday 18 October, 10am - 3pm; Talk 10am – 11:30am; Q&A 12pm – 1pm, Live Demonstration, Workshop 1.30pm - 3pm, Popup and Stitch In 11am – 3pm, see website for event and booking details.
Why do you think Sydney Craft Week is important/what drives you to be part of the Festival?
Sydney Craft Week celebrates the value of making and connects diverse communities through creativity. We’re driven to be part of SCW because it amplifies regional voices, showcases sustainable practices, and highlights how craft skills, mentality, and community can contribute to shaping a more resilient future. It also helps us deepen networks and foster groupings and clusters around the MTNS MADE creative economy.
How does your event respond to the Festival theme ‘material intelligence’?
Our symposium explores the intelligence embedded in natural fibres, skilled hands, and conscious processes. By pairing industry leaders with local makers, we highlight the knowledge materials carry and the importance of respecting their origins, use, and afterlife. It’s also a chance to trial new approaches to production, while exploring innovative, sustainable materials and manufacturing techniques.
What can people expect from your event?
A rich mix of conversation, demonstration, and participation: leading voices in sustainable textiles, local artisans creating in real time, and a chance for attendees to watch their own MTNS MADE t-shirt being made, an experience in valuing skill, process, and community.
Image top: Mtns MADE, Screen Salon Photo: Courtesy of Mtns MADE