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alidamilani

@alidamilani

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Founder @theartisanalcollective

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Fletcher Jones. Yves. Adidas. A kilt. Uniforms by design. Le Louvre.
History handwritten on paper moulds. All rolled and tied with scraps of fabric.

Every mould creates a garment. A skirt someone wore to work. A uniform. A dress for that special moment in life. If only these moulds could speak… what would they tell us?

They sit here quietly waiting for their next adventure. So beautiful and so… unknown. What does their future hold when the workshop closes?

We will be exploring this and more at The Art of Pleating at Melbourne Fashion Week on Wednesday 21 October.

@specialty_pleaters @alidamilani @mrspress @melbfashionweek by @alidamilani

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7 days ago

Hidden beauty. That’s what I discovered the day I saw Avril Buchanan present her ISS Institute George Alexander Fellowship report on her time spent at Global Pleating in Alexandria, Egypt.

She learnt how to make pleating moulds and brought that skill back to Melbourne, to Speciality Pleaters.

The size, the scale, the beauty... The immense beauty. It was breathtaking.

And so unknown. I mean, how do we not know these exist? What a travesty!

It ignited something in me. What else don’t we know about the making of our clothes? What else is there to uncover?

But that’s a bigger story.

For the moment, I’m delighted to share that The Art of Pleating, the inaugural short film from The Artisanal Collective, directed by Clare Press, premieres at Melbourne Fashion Week on Wednesday 21 October.

All 180 tickets have now been allocated! Wonderful news, although I’m sorry for those who missed out.

As it’s a free event, some places may become available. We’ve created a waitlist, so please add your name if you’d like to join us.

https://mfw.melbourne.vic.gov.au/event/the-art-of-pleating

In the meantime, enjoy the beauty of these extraordinary pleating moulds.

@issinstitute @Creative_Vic @melbfashionweek @rmituniversity @mrspress @specialty_pleaters @smallfixations @alidamilani

#CreativeVic #artisan #skills #capability#theartisanalcollective by @alidamilani

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10 days ago

Please join us for a very special event during Melbourne Fashion Week.

In December 2025, Victoria’s last commercial pleater closed its doors, bringing Australia to the brink of losing a remarkable specialist making capability.

Join us for the premiere of The Art of Pleating - the inaugural short film from The Artisanal Collective - tracing the history and significance of pleating in Australia while asking a much bigger question: what does it take to ensure specialist making capability has a future?

Directed by Clare Press, the film uses pleating as a lens to explore what happens when the specialist skills that make fashion possible begin to disappear and why preserving capability is about more than heritage. It is about creativity, innovation, and Australia’s future capacity to make.

Following the screening, The Artisanal Collective Founder Alida Milani will moderate a conversation with Clare, pleating technician Avril Buchanan, and RMIT Dean of Fashion & Textiles Dr Alice Payne.

Together, they will explore what it takes to rebuild specialist making capability, why human craftsmanship is becoming more valuable in the age of AI, and how collaboration can help shape Australia’s making future.

This project is in partnership with RMIT University and supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.
Wednesday 21 October | 2–3pm
As our inaugural event, tickets are free and booking is essential:
https://mfw.melbourne.vic.gov.au/event/the-art-of-pleating

@Creative_Vic @melbfashionweek @rmituniversity @mrspress @specialty_pleaters @smallfixations @theartisanalcollective

#CreativeVic #artisan #skills #capability #theartisanalcollective by @alidamilani

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a month ago

Where does the time go?

Last October, I stood at Melbourne Fashion Week and shared the report from my ISS Institute Italian/Australian Fellowship.

Please excuse my silence – I’ve been trying to work out how to share this beautiful tome of research – what is valuable – what you might enjoy – what there is to learn – and importantly – where my voice is in all of this. It’s taken time.

I’m delighted to say, I’m ready. I’m really excited to share some more – to have you meet the extraordinary people I met and some of the extraordinary people and initiatives I researched.

It was such a special and treasured time. And…. It’s lovely diving back in again.

I hope you enjoy.

Image: Running around Venice in my custom Kara Baker Couture Runaround dress.

@issintute @karabakercouture by @alidamilani

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a month ago

I just had to share this too. Some very special people here. Can’t believe how grateful I am. It’s a pretty wild ride this thing called life. Always appreciate being in fine company. 💙 by @alidamilani

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a year ago

There really is nothing better than being in conversation with inspiring people. During Melbourne Fashion Week I got to do just that. A very heartfelt thank you to Stephen Morris Moody, (Fabric Designer and Co-Owner of MTK Australia), and Grace Marafioti (What the F*** is Fashion Tech Blog and Founder of Gaia Custom) for exploring the notion that as we find ourselves in the midst of this technological revolution, as a counterbalance, we are experiencing an artisanal revolution.

With this emergence and as we build our AI smart factories, we explored why artisans matter, the value of human skills and creativity and how innovation emerges from mastery. Technology improves efficiency, but humans craft the future. There are immense opportunities at our fingertips: to embrace them it will take vision, commitment and collaboration.

Thank you to Dayana Adones and Julia Browne for continuing the exploration of this topic within the Roundtable discussions.

Thank you to ISS Institute for the Italian / Australian Fellowship that enabled this conversation.

Thank you to Melbourne couturier, Kara Baker. This bias-cut silk/wool dress from Kara Baker Couture, just 💙. Hair and make-up from the talented Kim Tavares.

And finally, thanks to Melbourne Fashion Week – to Matty Flinn and Jacinta O’Malley – such a pleasure to bring this conversation to the industry with your support.

Melbourne Fashion Week wrapped up a little while ago, I’m a little slow to share. The afterglow is still present. How lovely is that?

@mtk.knit @gaia.custom @dayana.adones , @melbfashhub @issinstitute @karabakercouture @kimtavaresmakeup

#MFW #MelbourneFashionWeek #fashion #artisans #artisanship #madeinaustralia #local #creativity #innovation by @alidamilani

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a year ago

We are thrilled to share Alida Milani’s Fellowship report, in partnership with the Italian Australian Foundation. ‘Reimagining Australian Fashion: An Artisanal Approach’ explores how artisanal fashion skills - grounded in tradition, cultural identity, and human ingenuity - can evolve alongside innovation and digital technology to create a more sustainable, connected, and economically resilient future for Australia’s fashion and textile sector.

We were fortunate to see Alida disseminating her knowledge at Melbourne Fashion Week, where she hosted a talk at M/FW Conversations: The Artisanal Revolution, in which she led critical industry conversations around sustainability, artisanship, and innovation.

🔗 Head to our website to hear more about her insightful and detailed research! by @alidamilani

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a year ago

Did you know that we have a pioneering knit-manufacturer who has supplied prestigious fashion houses including Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren, and worked under strict confidentiality with iconic French luxury names in the Kering group, seeing his creations grace catwalks from Paris to New York - right here on the outskirts of Melbourne?

Do you know what the F*** fashion tech is?

If you’d like answers to these questions and a whole lot more, come and meet Stephen Morris-Moody, Fabric Designer and Co-Owner of MTK Australia and Grace Marafioti, What the F*** is Fashion Tech Blog and Founder of Gaia Custom.

Whilst we’re in the midst of a technological revolution, we explore the notion that there is a counter balance, an artisanal revolution emerging.

Then join a Roundtable - you choose - to explore - investing in Melbourne’s artisanal future: what is needed? And how do artisans enable technology that amplifies their work OR, led by Julia Browne of Melbourne Fashion Hub, explore what is luxury now?

We’d love to see you, you can book tickets here:
https://mfw.melbourne.vic.gov.au/event/conversations

@mtk.knit @gaia.custom @melbfashhub

#MFW #MelbourneFashionWeek #artisans #fashion by @alidamilani

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a year ago

I am delighted to be in conversation with Stephen Morris-Moody and Grace Marafioti at:

M/FW CONVERSATIONS: THE ARTISANAL REVOLUTION

Thu 23 Oct
1:30 – 3:15pm

Stephen Morris-Moody (Fabric Designer and Co-Owner of MTK Australia)
Stephen Morris-Moody is the co-owner, fabric designer, and the driving creative force behind MTK Australia—a pioneering knit-fabric manufacturer based in Melbourne that supplies world-class and local labels with innovative, Australian-made cut and sew knit textiles.

Stephen’s expertise and the beauty of what he produces is breathtaking – all here on the outskirts of Melbourne – who knew?

Grace Marafioti (What the F*** is Fashion Tech Blog and Founder of Gaia Custom)
Through Grace’s studies in science and experience in technology, she founded a Bespoke Fashion label — Gaia Custom, with the aim to make custom clothing more accessible. This combination launched her into the world of ‘Fashion-Tech’. Grace now researches & writes on how people can scale personalisation via technology.

And Fashion Tech – there is so much in development it’s hard to keep up – can’t wait to hear what Grace has to say!

Fashion is at a crossroad. As the industry contends with overproduction, climate crisis and the rise of generative AI, a quiet revolution is emerging that sees artisanal skill, cultural diversity and human-scale production as our greatest assets.

Join us to explore why artisans matter, especially now, and how leading design houses, global initiatives and dedicated platforms invest in their success. We will unpack this shift and how innovation can be a tool to sustain and amplify artisanship.

Then join us for the roundtable – you choose – What is luxury now? A great topic to explore. Or Investing in Melbourne’s Artisanal Future – what is needed? And how can artisans enable technology that amplifies their work?

We’d love to see you; you can book tickets here:
https://mfw.melbourne.vic.gov.au/event/conversations

@mtk.knit @gaia.custom @gracemarafioti @dayana.adones @melbfashhub @issinstitute

#MFW #MelbourneFashionWeek #fashion #artisans #artisanship #madeinaustralia #local #creativity #innovation by @alidamilani

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a year ago

It is with great pleasure that I share I will be in conversation at Melbourne Fashion Week!

M/FW CONVERSATIONS: THE ARTISANAL REVOLUTION
Thu 23 Oct
1:30 – 3:15pm

Fashion sits at a crossroad. As the industry contends with overproduction, climate crisis and the rise of generative AI, a quiet revolution is emerging that sees artisanal skill, cultural diversity and human-scale production as our greatest assets.

Join us to explore why artisans matter and how leading design houses, global initiatives and dedicated platforms invest in their success. We will unpack how innovation can be a tool to sustain and amplify artisanship.

Then join the Roundtable to explore Investing in artisanship: what is needed? And… how can artisans enable technology that amplifies their work?

I’m in conversation with:
Stephen Morris-Moody (Fabric Designer and Co-Owner of MTK Australia)
Stephen Morris-Moody is the co-owner, fabric designer, and the driving creative force behind MTK Australia—a pioneering knit-fabric manufacturer based in Melbourne that supplies world-class and local labels with innovative, Australian-made cut and sew knit textiles.

Grace Marafioti (What the F*** is Fashion Tech Blog and Founder of Gaia Custom)
Through Grace’s studies in science and experience in technology, she founded a Bespoke Fashion label — Gaia Custom, with the aim to make custom clothing more accessible. This combination launched her into the world of ‘Fashion-Tech’. Grace now researches & writes on how people can scale personalisation via technology.

We’d love to see you, you can book tickets here:
https://mfw.melbourne.vic.gov.au/event/conversations

@melbfashionweek @mtk.knit @gracemarafioti @gaia.custom

#MFW #MelbourneFashionWeek #artisan #artisanship #madeinmelbourne by @alidamilani

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a year ago

A little while ago, I had the immense pleasure of attending the Martin Grant exhibition at the NGV Australia with fellow ISS Institute Fellow, Lisa Piller. Seeing the collection through a maker’s lens was so special. I mean, I can see the beauty, the artistry, the exquisiteness of design, and I have a sense of the complexity… but I don’t really know.

When we arrived at the pleating and in particular, the pleated skirt with the pattern, Lisa, shared “The way the geometric print has been manipulated through pleating – and the careful and deliberate control of the pleat widths and directions at critical points – that is immensely complex – it extends the dimensionality of the print and design, while maintaining the stunning couture fit at the waist”.

I have always been a big believer in the fact simplicity is in fact complex. I marvel at the expertise behind Martin’s creativity and love that the NGV have invested in showcasing this extraordinary talent. There’s so much to enjoy.

If you haven’t been, it’s worth the visit to experience something quite beautiful.
On until 26 January 2026.

@issinstitute @design_steward @martingrantofficial @ngvmelbourne
#artisan #aetelier #melbourne #paris taken in NGV Australia: The Ian Potter Centre by @alidamilani

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a year ago

Good morning Melbourne! 🦢☀️🩵 by @alidamilani

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a year ago