INTERVIEW with Jacqueline Rheinberger || 2026 Finalist for The Australian Wearable Art Festival
SD: Hi, Jacqueline. Can you introduce yourself to my readers who don't know you yet?
JR: Hello! Thank you Suzanne for the interview opportunity, it’s very exciting as it’s my first time ever being interviewed. I am currently in my last year of university. I am studying a Bachelor of Creative Industries majoring in Creative Arts. I love textile processes and I try to immerse myself in everything I can. Currently I do a lot of needle felting and embroidery work, I also illustrate which I love to mix into my textile work using dye sublimation process.
SD: How and when did you get into wearable art?
JR: I have been introduced into the wearable art world through my studies here at the university. I created a fully wearable piece for a soft sculpture class in 2024, guided by the marvellous Louisa Magric’s. Before this I have always dabbled in little wearable projects, as a kid I loved creating costumes for the book week parades. This entry for the Australian Wearable Art Festival will be my first major project outside of my studies.
SD: What advice would you give to a younger version of yourself when you were starting out in wearable art?
JR: This is a hard question as I guess I’m still in the beginning of my wearable art journey. The advice I’d give my younger self is to honestly get out there. I’ve always found it hard to put my self in the spotlight. I know I have the drive and skills to create something that I’m proud of and the only thing holding me back is my own fear. I’d also tell my self to keep experimenting and pushing those boundaries, experimenting leads to wonderful things, if you don’t try you don’t know.
SD: What keeps you inspired?
JR: There are a lot of things that keep me inspired, I guess seeing other creatives out there in the world creating absolutely stunning works is the big one. I’m also inspired by my own experience and how the world shapes my own perception, society, sexuality, womanhood, the environment. The other big one is anatomy, nature and biology. I have always been fascinated by these subjects and they always feature heavily in my work.
SD: Explain your understanding of sustainable fashion practices and how you incorporate them into your design process.
JR: I think now more than ever we need to be very conscious of our impact on the environment, especially as creatives working in the textile industry. It is one of those things that create an unbelievable amount of waste every year, fast fashion and always chasing the new trend is only pushing this statistic. I try to be as conscious as possible when I am creating. I try to up cycle materials and give them a new life, reinventing their story. I use a lot of excess materials that the university has spare from class project’s as well as things I collect from the people around me. I’d like to mention the university’s technical officer and artist Giselle Penn for her generous donations and support in recycling at the university in the textile studio. She is the one organising the use of these spare materials.
SD: You're a 2026 finalist in The Australian Wearable Art Festival. What excites you most about this?
JR: What excites me most about this massive opportunity is the ability to connect with other creators. It will be so beneficial for my career and practice as a creative, learning from my peers. I am also excited to take a huge step in my own personal journey, this is will the first major project I have done that’s not with the university.
Tickets are going fast. Go and buy tickets to see Jacqueline Rheinberger in The Australian Wearable Art Festival here
The Australian Wearable Art Festival Website: https://australianwearableart.com.au/
The Australian Wearable Art Festival Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/australianwearableart/
The Australian Wearable Art Festival Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/australianwearableart/
Jacqueline Rheinberger’s Social Media Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_jackys_art_
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jacqueline.rheinberger
Photo Credits:
First Photo: Liane Audrins - University of Newcastle Photography Studio
Second Photo: Lillian Ball - University of Newcastle Nu Space Building