Designers are encouraged to hunt down those fabulous vintage fabrics or repurpose that old woollen blanket for an exciting new category of the 2025 Henty Natural Fibre Fashion Awards in September.

The Best Repurposed/Recycled Fabric Garment will be among the highlights of the 20th annual Henty Natural Fibre Awards at the 2025 Henty Machinery Field Days.

The event happens from Tuesday, September 23 until Thursday, September 25.

The new category requires entries to be made of natural fibres and will carry a prize of $500 sponsored by Greater Hume Council.

Boasting prizes valued at around $5500, the fashion awards have grown into a prestigious event attracting high-profile designers, with the 2025 entries to be paraded in the Country Lifestyle pavilion at 1pm on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The final parade will be held at 11am on Thursday, with the winners announced at 1.30pm.

Anne Maher, of Henty, has stepped into the role of awards convenor, filling the shoes of Lyn Jacobsen, who initiated the awards in 2004.

Mrs Maher said the initiative and innovation among the designers in upcycling and repurposing natural fibre such as wool, linen, cotton and silk was exciting.

“Last year we had some interesting repurposed entries, including a shawl made from a tablecloth and matching pants from a chenille bedspread,” she said.

“It is great to see materials that have had another purpose now being used for something else.

Mrs Maher’s involvement with Country Lifestyle began decades ago as an exhibitor when she had a retail stall in partnership with her grandmother.

“It has been really interesting to watch Country Lifestyle evolve, and it is a great credit to Lyn Jacobsen using her contacts and initiative to develop it to what it is today,” she said.

The awards are free and open to all designers, but the fabric in the garment must be at least 70 per cent natural fibre, which can be wool, cotton, alpaca, silk, linen or combinations.

Leather is not classed as a natural fibre and can only be added as a trim.

Garments are judged on visual appeal, creativity and innovation.

To be announced on the final day, the winner of the supreme garment made with natural fibres will receive $1000 in prize money from Henty Machinery Field Days plus a Bernina 325 sewing machine valued at $1499, courtesy of Bernina Australia and Sew Fab, Narrandera.

The winners of the best knitted or crocheted garment will receive $500 donated by Fox & Lillie Rural, while the millinery and accessory winners will receive $500 each sponsored by Henty Machinery Field Days.

Bernina Australia and Sew Fab are donating a Bernette 44 Funlocker valued at $750 as an encouragement award for the best garment by a student designer.

Entries are open until September 9.

For more information on the awards or to enter, visit hmfd.com.au

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Thursday, 11th September 2025

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