Henty Machinery Field Days volunteer-turned-fashion-designer Louise Lieschke, of Henty, with her winning accessory modelled by Emma Schwass. Photo: HMFD.
Louise Lieschke is much more accustomed to greeting visitors and manning canteens at the eastern gate of the Henty Machinery Field Days than to the spotlight of a fashion catwalk.
But the Henty Show Society volunteer’s name has now been etched in the history of the 21st Henty Natural Fibre Fashion Awards.
The first-time entrant took the Best Accessory Award for a coat made from cotton, with soft cotton batting combining comfort and practicality with a handcrafted finish.
For Louise, a retired farmer, dipping her creative toes into the fashion side of the event was prompted by the gentle nudging of awards coordinator Anne Maher.
A keen sewer and quilter by trade, Louise was eventually persuaded to enter two heavily quilted, vibrant jackets. Featuring burst-of-colour floral embroidery and trimmed in whimsical fake rabbit fur, her brave leap into the unknown was richly rewarded.
She wasn’t the only local making waves in the packed Country Lifestyle Pavilion, with Henty’s own Jan Dew claiming the Popular Choice Packers Award.
Her winning three-piece ensemble — featuring fluid, flowing pants, a coordinated top and a stylish duster coat — proves that beauty often hides in plain sight, given it was entirely fashioned from repurposed vintage lace tablecloths and old bed-linen sheets.
Yet, it was the timeless allure of the 1970s that ultimately earned the day’s highest honour, with a Bendigo designer claiming the coveted Supreme Garment Award.
Marg Hogan wowed the judges with her use of fibre and contemporary design in a wearable art dress crafted using 18.5-micron Merino wool from Treetops.
The dress featured a landscape-inspired palette of grevillea and rich luxurious silk lining adding softness and movement. It was felted in two layers to create a structured silhouette.
Marg said the Nuno-felted dress drew inspiration from 1970s fashion and was a celebration of colour, texture and natural beauty.
Her affinity for giving old stories new life doubled her success, as she also walked away with the Best Recycled and Repurposed Award.
Her eco-dyed jacket — stitched together from six discarded woollen jumpers and lined with an old sleeping bag — turned imperfection into poetry.
Original moth holes were meticulously hidden beneath intricate silk embroidery, finished with Kartha stitching inspired by a poignant visit to a Bangladeshi refugee camp.
It is this exact intersection of sustainability and soul that has supercharged the event’s newest category.
The Recycled and Repurposed section — introduced last year — swelled to 34 entries from 22 designers, a highlight of the fashion awards that are a staple of the Country Lifestyle program during the three-day field days (22-24 September).
A closer look throughout the pavilion revealed a rich tapestry of preloved fabrics being reimagined into the unique and the unforgettable.
The Rock designer Margaret Tinnock showcased a denim dress featuring a fringed bodice sliced from old jeans, paired with a crochet carry bag spun from used sheets and pillowcases.
Meanwhile, Rebekah Lubke of Henty conjured pure retro charm, turning a vintage double-bed flat sheet into a whimsical 100 per cent cotton two-piece outfit.
From amateur hobbyists to seasoned professionals, the awards continue to celebrate the raw journey of natural fibres from paddock to catwalk.
Other artisans left their own indelible marks on the 2026 runway. Wagga’s Rebecca Hillis took the Millinery category by reblocking a vintage yellow wool felt beret into a strikingly contemporary silhouette.
Not far behind was Augusta Glasgow, also of Wagga, whose semi-formal cotton sateen outfit effortlessly cruised into the Supreme Garment finals.
And, proving that true style stands the test of time, perennial designer Judy Bond of Coomealla secured back-to-back victories in the Knitted and Crocheted category. Her ensemble featured pure Merino wool knitted leggings paired with a crocheted vest, a reversible jacket, and a matching beret.
As the pavilion doors closed on another year, it’s clear that Henty is never just about the heavy machinery and big boys’ toys! It’s about the threads that bind a community.
