The symposium is a collection of talks by leading creatives who work across fashion and textile design and artisan practice. The event complements an exhibition held at UTS that celebrates a unique cross-cultural exchange between Fashion & Textile Design students and Master artisans from Tharangini Woodblock Studio in Bangalore, India.

9.00 – 9.15 am: Registration

9.15 – 9.45 am: Artisan Woodblock Print Global Studio

Dr Cecilia Heffer presents a unique cross-cultural exchange between UTS Fashion & Textile students and Tharangini Woodblock Print Studio, Bangalore, India. Tharangini opened their archive of woodblocks to explore through various techniques, including natural dyes and indigo resist patterning. A community of practice was created through shared narratives crossing age, language and cultures resulting in novel woodblock prints and embroidery outcomes.

Designer Julie Lantry initiated the program in 2012.

@tharanginistudio

9.45 – 10.15 am: Natural Dye and Woodblock Print Artist-in-Residence

Artist/designer Joanna Fowles worked with Master artisans alongside the Global Studio in December 2025 as an artist in residence at Tharangini. The talk presents the rich exchange of natural dye and print knowledge that emerged from the residency.

@joannafowles

10.15 – 10.45 am: Co-designing with artisans in Kashmir and India

Dr Deborah Emmett is an educator, researcher, and textile designer who runs her business Tradition Textiles. Deborah will share her extensive textile experience in Kashmir and India, focusing on co-designing with textile artisan communities for Tradition Textiles.

www.traditiontextiles.com.au

10.45 – 11.15 – Chai Tea and Sweets Break

11.15 am – 12.15 pm: Indonesian Handloom Peace Silk and Batik– online presentation

Designer and academic Janet Teowarang from Ciputra Surabaya University, East Java, presents a mentorship with UTS Fashion and Textiles students and the cultural processes of Indonesian batik, wax-resist, natural dyes and Eri silk handloom weaving by KaIND Artisans.

The final fashion designs will be presented at Jakarta Fashion Hub, Indonesia, in October 2026.

@janetteowarang

12.15 – 1.00 pm: Panel Discussion: Fashion translated through Artisan Practice

Fashion Designer Akira Isogawa and Stylist Peter Simon Phillips in conversation with Dr Cecilia Heffer

Akira Isogawa is one of Australia’s most acclaimed fashion designers. His distinctive textile and costume designs have received international and national recognition, including the Australian Fashion Laureate for his contribution to Australian fashion.

@akiraisogawa

Peter Simon Phillips is a leading Creative Director and Fashion Stylist. Through an interest in crafted textiles as tools of empowerment, he mentors Project Two Mile, uplifting the woven Bilum work of marginalised PNG women artisans on global platforms.

@petersimonphillips