Armidale, 16 November 2024 – The Australian wool and fashion industries came together to honour creativity, craftsmanship, and the extraordinary qualities of Australian Merino wool at the 2024 Fleece to Fashion Awards. Held in the historic Main Pavilion at the Armidale Showground, the event highlighted the versatility of wool and its significance in the fashion industry.
A highlight of the evening was the recognition of local textile artist, felter, and hat maker Jo-Anne Barr, who received the Established Designers Encouragement Award for her innovative ensemble. Her entry featured a reversible swing coat, a felted fedora-style hat, and a matching clutch, all handcrafted from Australian Fine Merino wool.
“The coat alone took me four days to make, using a seamless felting technique I learned from an international felter. It started as a bundle of wool fibres and, through a lot of hard work, transformed into a beautiful garment with no seams at all,” Jo explained. “This is the first wearable garment I’ve ever felted, as I traditionally make hats.”
Jo complemented the coat with a felt fedora-style hat and matching clutch, both crafted to showcase the sustainability and versatility of Australian wool.
Attending her first Wool Fashion Awards 35 years ago, Jo described this achievement as a dream realised. “I’m passionate about the Australian agricultural and textiles industry, particularly Australian fibres, which have been the foundation of my career as a textiles technician. For over 35 years, I’ve created hats, and recently launched my label, JAMB Hats, producing hand-felted wool hats using Australian wool.”
The 2024 Fleece to Fashion Awards demonstrated the remarkable potential of wool in fashion, celebrating its adaptability and reinforcing its importance as a sustainable and innovative fibre