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Brisbane-based artist Isabelle Cameron emerged victorious at this year’s Australian Wearable Art Festival, taking home the Festival’s highest honour, Supreme Winner, at the gala night held on the Sunshine Coast.

The Australian Wearable Art Festival, a convergence of art and fashion, concluded its highly anticipated event last Saturday, showcasing a spectacular display of 38 national and international boundary-pushing wearable artworks.

Ms Cameron, whose outstanding crochet piece, entered into the ‘Floriana’ category, ultimately took home three prizes for her piece “Dear Babushka” – the Supreme Winner, the Floriana category winner and one of four artists chosen to be featured in the Textile Fibre Forum magazine.

“’Dear Babushka’ is a love letter to my Ukrainian heritage and the happy childhood moments I spent with my Babushka in her garden. I wanted the look to draw anyone back to childhood nostalgia,” said Ms Cameron.

“The large lily flowers you see on the headdress coupled with the purple and yellow colouring are in tribute to my model who is a proud intersex woman.

“It was really important for me to share her pride and story because a lot of the time the ‘I’ in LGBTQIA is overlooked. Stephanie also shares Ukrainian heritage as well so the traditional ‘vinok’ was also significant to her.

“Backstage was a really supportive vibe with each artist helping each other and getting everyone on stage was a collective effort, not the competitive environment you might expect.”

Judges Bethany Cordwell and Fifi Colston said that of the 38 entries in the festival, each showcasing the artists’ talents and stories, Ms Cameron’s work stood out for weaving subtle narrative into sculpture forms that transcended genre.

“We were absolutely blown away with the creation and construction of Isabelle’s incredibly colourful floral garment,” Ms Colston said.

“The absolute joy it brings to the wearer and the audience is evident, as well as being a heartfelt creation made with so much love.”

With participants hailing from diverse corners of the world, including Poland, Germany, the United States, and various parts of Australia, the event demonstrated its reputation as a growing international art and fashion spectacle.

“The festival’s four main categories—Trashion, Sustainable Nature, Floriana, and Avant Garde—showcased the incredible diversity and creativity of the wearable art genre,” Ms Colston said.

“This event is only going to grow in standard and audience as word gets out about how fabulous and unique this show is.”

The success of Australian Wearable Art Festival would not have been possible without the support of its partners, including Sunshine Coast Council, Fresh PR & Marketing, In Noosa Magazine and Hello Sunshine Magazine, 92.7 Mix FM, Mercure Kawana, the De Deyne family, Sunshine Plaza, Horse & Water, and Converge Marketing.

Australian Wearable Art Festival will return in 2024 with dates set for 9-11 August.

For more information about the festival, please visit www.australianwearableart.com.au.