classes: Shibori and Fabric Dyeing • Sewing and Embroidery • Textiles

4.8 (13)

Textile artist and sustainable fashion designer Charlene O'Brien graduated from the London College of Fashion with a higher tec diploma in clothing production in the mid-1980s.

After migrating to Australia from Zimbabwe, she used recycled denim yarns to produce her popular 'eco denim' clothing range which was showcased at the very first Mercedes Fashion Week in Sydney, 1997. Inspired by the need for sustainability in the fashion industry, Charlene pioneered and established the eco-fashion business Tierra Ecologia, and sold her handmade label eco logika Australia-wide.

The early 2000s took her business to Vietnam where the recycled denim yarn was hand crocheted and knitted into a collection of bags, jumpers and cardigans for men and women supporting a cottage industry over there. It was distributed via mail order and local boutiques until the yarn was sold out. She also created a casual wear hemp collection for men and women. using commercial natural dyes for a high volume of sales. The successful business trading Australia-wide came to a halt due to cheap Chinese imports.

Mid 2000s a new direction took her to create a unique handmade and sustainably sourced naturally dyed couture collection which was showcased and sold out to a Parisian Gallerie at the Paris Ethical Fashion Trade Show over a 5-year period.

A finalist for the IE Award on sustainability in the premium and luxury sectors 2015, Spain and currently a member of the International Executive Board of the Global Sustainable Fashion Week, Budapest 2017. Charlene is internationally recognised for creating handmade, environmentally friendly and upcycled couture under her Charlene Vivienne label.

Recently located to Ravensthorpe, Western Australia where she currently lives and works. Her studio is a converted vintage wood den and is now called The Workshop and is home to her creations and teaches sustainable fashion. Ravensthorpe is a historical mining town that has a biosphere of thousands of wildflowers and is famous for the wildflower show in spring.

Maybe book a workshop around this time when flowers are in their glory. A great time to visit.

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