LITHGOW FASHION WEEK

UNDERPINNING FASHION - THE INSIDE STORY

May 16 - 24

Gang Gang Gallery, Lithgow

PETER MCNEIL | LOUISE MITCHELL | RAY CHRISTISON | SANDY FULLERTON | ERIC HAGEN | Dr SARAH BENDALL

LITHGOW FASHION WEEK RETURNS WITH ‘UNDERPINNING FASHION – THE INSIDE STORY’
Gang Gang Gallery unveils expanded 2026 program celebrating the unsung women of Lithgow’s garment industry and the daring engineering beneath iconic style.

Following a record-breaking debut, Gang Gang Gallery is proud to announce the return of Lithgow Fashion Week, running over two weekends 16–17 and 23–24 May 2026. This year’s theme, Underpinning fashion – the inside story, delves into the hidden history of undergarments and shines a long-overdue spotlight on the women who powered Lithgow’s textile and garment manufacturing for nearly 160 years.

While Lithgow’s story has long been dominated by coal, iron and steel, the region was once a thriving hub of garment production. From the first woollen mill in 1837 to the iconic Berlei and Bonds factories that operated well into the late 20th century, thousands of local women built exceptional careers as machinists, cutters and designers. Lithgow Fashion Week reclaims that narrative, transforming it into a vibrant, contemporary celebration of art, history and community.

“Last year’s event proved just how deeply fashion and heritage resonate here,” said Sharon Howard, Director of Gang Gang Gallery. “We welcomed our highest-ever visitation across a single weekend, with guests travelling from Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Central West. In 2026 we’re diving even deeper — quite literally under the layers — to explore how corsets, crinolines, bullet bras and bustiers sculpted the silhouettes we admire. It’s a tribute to the skill of the women who made them, and to Lithgow’s enduring creative spirit.”

The 2026 program brings together a remarkable line-up of experts and experiences:

~~ Professor Peter McNeil, pre-eminent fashion and design historian, and Louise Mitchell, former fashion curator at the PowerHouse Museum, will deliver keynote presentations.

~~ Ray Christison, Lithgow’s pre-eminent historian, will lecture on the local textile industry and lead a community project to capture and publish the stories of former garment
workers.

~~ Renowned designer Sandy Fullerton (Fullerton Design) and haute couture expert Eric Hagen will share inside stories and mentor emerging talent.

~~ Dr Sarah Bendall will demonstrate historical garment padding techniques, bringing crinolines, bustles and bustiers to life.

~~ Rosa Pascoe, We're thrilled to have local R.R. Pascoe a multi award winning Australian artist and designer. She is best known for her wearable artworks utilising salvaged and sustainable materials which she has been creating for over two decades. Her work has featured in exhibitions in the US, UK, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, as well as throughout Australia and NZ, and is held in both private and public collections including the permanent historical collection of the National WOW (World of Wearable Art) Museum, NZ.

~~ Live fashion illustration, interactive parades inviting audiences to wear their own original, retro or designer pieces, and the return of Academy Travel’s exclusive preview tour highlight the five-day celebration.

THE GREAT BRA COMPETITION — A CALL TO CREATIVES.

In a bold centrepiece for 2026, Gang Gang Gallery is inviting fashion designers, artists and rule-breakers to redefine the bra. The Artful Bra competition challenges entrants to create extraordinary, conceptual, sustainable, sculptural or provocative designs — from haute couture to whimsical art pieces. Entries will be exhibited throughout the festival, with prizes awarded for Most Outstanding Design (judged by a fashion icon) and the People’s Choice.

Award. Entry is $10, and all proceeds support the National Breast Cancer Foundation, embedding social sustainability into the event’s fabric. “Summon your breast best creative powers, ” the gallery urges. “Make it iconic.”

ENTRY FORM ATTACHED BELOW

A TOWN IN TRANSITION — WHY LITHGOW, WHY NOW
Lithgow Fashion Week is part of a strategic push to reinvent the local economy through cultural tourism. As mining declines, a growing collective of artists, makers and designers is working to position Lithgow as a destination for excellence, not just a place to pass through. The event joins Ironfest and the Halloween Street Parade as cornerstones of a new identity — one that attracts investment, encourages young creatives to settle locally, and fosters pride across generations. “This is a community collaborative project in the truest sense,” said curator Wendy
Carlson. “We’re working with historians to record the voices of the women who worked in these factories before they are lost. We’re inviting locals to exhibit, parade and compete. And we’re showing all of Australia that Lithgow’s creative future is as rich as its industrial past.”

FAST FACTS
- What: Lithgow Fashion Week 2026 – Underpinning fashion – the inside story.
- When: Weekends 16–17 and 23–24 May 2026 PLUS shopping day Friday 22 May, with retro/vintage and sustainable local fashion for sale, style tips and onsite cafe.
- Where: Gang Gang Gallery, Lithgow NSW (direct electric train service from Sydney)
- Highlights: Expert talks, live drawing, fashion parades, demonstrations, The Artful Bra competition and exhibition, historic publication project.
- Competition entry: $10, proceeds to National Breast Cancer Foundation

MEDIA CONTACT
Sharon Howard, Director
Gang Gang Gallery
Email: info@gggallery.com.au | Phone: 0408 514 440

High-resolution images and interviews with curators, historians and participating designers are available upon request.

About Gang Gang Gallery
Gang Gang Gallery is a professionally run contemporary art space in Lithgow, NSW, dedicated to showcasing the extraordinary talent of Central West artists and creators. Under the direction of Sharon Howard for over nine years, the gallery presents a dynamic program of exhibitions, events and community collaborations that bridge art, heritage and regional identity.

TICKETS HERE

BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL

PROGRAM OF EVENTS

 

DAY 1 - SATURDAY 16 MAY, 11am – 4pm    BOOK TICKETS HERE

• 11am: Doors open, Displaying art by Anita Resevska, Glamour swimwear by Coles of California, courtesy of Brooke Hennessy, Fashion garments courtesy of Sandy Fullerton, fashion drawings by Eric Hagen, every day
• 12noon – 12.15pm: Welcome, Sharon Howard, Director Gang Gang Gallery Introduction, Wendy Carlson, Curator
• 12.15pm -1pm: Professor Peter McNeil opening presentation ‘Underpinning Fashion’
• 1pm – 1.20pm: FROCK UP Fashion Parade – come dressed in your best and join the parade
• 1.20pm – 1.30pm: Judging the Fashion Parade - Peter McNeil. Prizes for:

1. Fashionista of the Day
2. Best retro outfit
3. Most creative outfit

• 2pm – 3pm: Louise Mitchell – presenting the history of Berlei and the changing shape of women
  over the past 100 years
• 3pm – 4pm: Eric Hagen fashion drawing with live models Sandy Fullerton embroidery on display, catch the inside fashion gossip with Sandy.
• 4pm: Close

 

DAY 2 - SUNDAY 16 MAY 11am – 4pm    BOOK TICKETS HERE

• 11am – 1pm: Eric Hagen fashion drawing with live models Sandy Fullerton embroidery on display, catch the inside fashion gossip with Sandy
• 1pm - 2pm:  Dr Sarah Bendall will demonstrate historical garment padding techniques, bringing crinolines, bustles and bustiers to life.
• 2pm: Brooke Hennessy talks about her Coles of California swimwear collection
• 4pm: Close

 

DAY 3 - FRIDAY 22 MAY - Shopping Day  11am – 4pm   FREE ADMISSION

Held behind the Gallery in the Market space

• 11am - 4pm: Retailers and fashion artist’s work for sale
• 12noon – 1pm: Marnee Fox, presents Bohemian Style – Home and Fashion
• 1.30pm -2.30pm: Sally – SalOn Katoomba, Rediscover your Style – Vintage and Retro styling
• 2.30pm - 4pm: STYLE UNLIMITED Marnee and Sally in the gallery

 

DAY 4 SATURDAY 23 MAY 11am – 4pm    BOOK TICKETS HERE

• 11.30am-12noon: Ray Christison, presenting the history of Lithgow’s garment/textile industry
• 12noon – 1pm: Eric Hagen, fashion drawing with live models Sandy Fullerton embroidery on display, catch the inside fashion goss with Sandy
• 2pm -3pm: Dr Sarah Bendall – demonstrating structures of undergarments from 16th - 19th century
• 3pm: Sarah Bendall judges The Great Bra Competition. Prizes for:

1. Most extreme bra
2. Prettiest bra
3. Audience favourite bra

DAY 5 - SUNDAY 24 MAY 11am - 4pm  Finale   BOOK TICKETS HERE

• 11am – 4pm: Eric Hagen fashion drawing, live models Sandy Fullerton embroidery on display, catch the inside fashion goss with Sandy.
• 12noon – 1pm: Marnee Fox, Bohemian Style – Home and Fashion.
• 1pm -2pm: Sally – SalOn Katoomba, Rediscover your Style – Vintage and Retro styling
• 2pm- 4pm: STYLE UNLIMITED Marnee, Sally, Sandy and Eric fashion stories, styling and tips, closing remarks
• 4pm: Close