Dressing Sydney: The Jewish Fashion Story

UTS Professor of Design History Peter McNeil led a team of PhD students to help uncover the history of the Jewish Schmatte (rag) trade, covering the early days of making garments and manufacturing to discovering drip dry fabrics, colours, knitting and sewing.

They also looked at the successes and failures, the family businesses, immigrants and Holocaust survivors who came to Australia with nothing and started work in the fashion industry.

These inspirational stories of entrepreneurs and innovators were found in archives in Sydney and Canberra and via interviews with those involved or their families. The UTS team also researched and photographed prominent sites around Surry Hills, which was once the epicentre of a thriving Schmatte trade.

Dressing Sydney also looks to the future, profiling contemporary designers including Bec and Bridge (UTS graduates Becky Cooper and Bridget Currer), Camilla and Mark and Nikita Sernack, the designer behind the popular street wear brand Nookie.

The exhibition will be brought to life through recollections, photographs, garments and accessories.

As part of the exhibition, on Thursday 13 September at 1pm, Associate Professor Margaret Maynard will give a talk Deceptive Habits hosted by The History Council of NSW to coincide with History Week.

For more information visit: www.sydneyjewishmuseum.com.au