The National Wool Museum in partnership with RMIT, presents Quilts, Wool, Use "You were not completely in, but you were not exactly out either" an exhibition highlighting the artistry, sustainability, and historical significance of Australia's wagga quilts.
Crafted from recycled jute sacks, fabric scraps, and repurposed garments during the settler, wartime, and Depression eras, these pieces tell stories of resilience and the ingenuity of working-class women too often left out of official records.
Created by RMIT University's Ricarda Bigolin and Chantal Kirby (D and K), the exhibition engages fashion as a vehicle for storytelling and critique. Its title draws from Kate Grenville's The Idea of Perfection, reflecting how personal histories, relationships, and material use overlap across time and space.
Through garments, performance, and film, D and K respond to the Museum's archive of wagga quilts and wool industry ephemera—exploring how materials act as vessels of memory and meaning. The exhibition invites visitors to reconsider how fashion is created, valued, and consumed in contemporary culture.
In addition to new works by D and K, the exhibition will include objects from the Museum's collection including fashion, photography and nationally significant examples of wagga quilts.
Exhibition design by D and K, Stuart Geddes, and Žiga Testen. Photography by Tim Hardy and Matthew Stanton. Supported by RMIT University.
Quotes
Geelong's strong textile heritage continues to shape our cultural and creative identity. As a UNESCO City of Design, we support initiatives that honour our history while embracing innovation in material use and storytelling. Exhibitions like Quilts, Wool, Use exemplify how design can reflect community values, sustainability, and the enduring legacy of making with purpose, said Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM.
As we reflect on furniture, dresses, and waggas pieced together from limited materials, it's essential to acknowledge the creativity and resourcefulness behind the act of 'making do.' Quilts, Wool, Use is more than an exhibition—it's a handshake across time. It brings us closer to the lives and ingenuity of those who crafted and relied on these objects under difficult circumstances, said Padraic Fisher, National Wool Museum Director.
Special events
Mega Clothing Swap by the Clothing Exchange
Saturday 16 August 1.00pm– 3.00pm
Reduce waste by exchanging your pre-loved clothing or accessories for fresh finds. Enjoy engaging textile and sustainability activities, hear from The Slow Fashion Advocate Jenna Flood, or explore Quilts, Wool Use and the Sustainable Fashion Prize.
Exhibition details
QUILTS, WOOL, USE. "You were not completely in, but you were not exactly out either."
National Wool Museum
2 August-2 November. Open daily 10.00am-5.00pm
Exhibition tickets available at the door. Event bookings via www.nwm.vic.gov.au
