Join co-authors Trish Fitzsimons and Madelyn Shaw of Fleeced: Unraveling the History of Wool and War, for a discussion about this ground-breaking publication’s exploration of the demand for wool in wartime. The authors also investigate the diplomatic, economic and technological changes wrought in the textile industries by wartime scarcities of wool and how this contributed to our current environmental crisis of fast fashion and microplastic pollution.

About the authors:

Trish Fitzsimons is adjunct professor at the Griffith Film School, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia. She is a documentary filmmaker and exhibition curator with a passion for social and cultural history. Her intellectual and creative interests had not included textile history prior to this shared research project with Madelyn. Letters written by her grandfather 1904 -07 to her great grandparents in Melbourne and associated documents were one impetus to this book. Interview has been a defining component of her practice for the last 40 years, in documentary films, a book and articles, and exhibitions.

Madelyn Shaw is a curator and author specialising in the exploration of American culture and history and its international connections through textile and dress. She has held curatorial and administrative positions at the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Rhode Island School of Design. She has curated more than 50 exhibitions and published widely on topics related to the development of the American textile and fashion industries, the China Trade, Slave Cloth, and Aviation clothing and popular culture.

Information source - cch.deakin.edu.au/news/2025

Fleeced: Unraveling the History of Wool and War publishers - Rowman & Littlefield/Bloomsbury 2025

What you need to know

Suitable for audience members 18 years and older.
If your circumstances change and you can no longer attend this workshop, please email niki.vouis@ahc.sa.gov.au before 5pm, Wednesday 6 August 2025. After this time and date we cannot issue refunds.
Wine and nibbles provided.

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This event is presented in association with Winter Words, an Adelaide Hills Council literary event held during the winter months.