Sally Jackson

Sally is a sustainable fashion activist, artist and educator. Having spent her early career in commercial bridal fashion and costume design, Sally recently graduated from UTS in 2020 with an honours degree. Sally designed a 100% up-cycled couture collection called The Bowerbirds. Sally has a passion for DIY fashion design education and hopes to change people’s perceptions of what fashion can be. She believes in skill sharing and collaboration. Broadening the idea of storytelling through what people wear and reimagining alternate ways of making fashion and expressing your creativity. Sally has designed sustainable fashion programs at UTS and The Powerhouse Museum. Collaborated on multiple projects with First Nation’s Fashion Design and facilitated community workshops for Sydney World Pride at The Sydney Opera House. 

As a sustainable fashion researcher, Sally is dedicated to promoting circular design principles. Her work explores the potential of repurposing and upcycling existing materials to minimize waste and environmental impact. Inspired by her mother’s 50-year-old wedding dress, she created the Bowerbird collection in 2020. This six-piece collection showcased the timeless beauty of vintage textiles, demonstrating how past fashion can inform contemporary design.
 
Now, she’s taking this concept a step further. She’s collaborating with a former bride to transform her donated wedding gown into a new, bespoke garment. By involving the original wearer in the redesign process, Sally aims to create a truly personal and sustainable garment.
 
She’s excited to continue developing this project through a residency at The Ethics Centre, where she will explore the ethical implications of sustainable fashion and delve deeper into the emotional and cultural significance of clothing, while continuing to advocate for circular design practices.

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