Artists bring new life to Westmount community hall

A fashion designer and a textile artist are turning a former preschool in Westmount into a working studio, gathering place, and showcase for Edmonton's emerging fashion community.

"As an aspiring designer at one point in Edmonton, I just felt like there weren't many opportunities for me to find work in Edmonton within the fashion sector or to show my work," said Maria Wozniak, creative director of Augusta Fashion + Textiles. "I really like to advocate for why fashion is an important part to the culture of a city, why it is storytelling and concept and self-expression, and why it deserves to be supported, funded, and experienced just as much as other art forms in the city, too."

The studio is located in the Westmount Community League's hall, in a space previously occupied by a preschool. Wozniak said the league considered more conventional uses for the room before inviting proposals that could bring arts programming into the neighbourhood.

"I think typically it would be something to do with sports, like taekwondo or something like that," she said. "But I think the board really wanted to advocate for the arts coming into the community and into the neighborhood."

Augusta shares the space with multidisciplinary artist Sophia Lengle. Wozniak and Lengle met during their undergraduate studies. They reconnected when they were both moving back to Canada after completing their studies abroad — Wozniak in Italy and Lengle in the Netherlands. The community league space was larger than she needed, so Wozniak partnered with Lengle, who has her own multidisciplinary practice encompassing textile art and painting.

"I wanted to activate it with another artist here, and she was a perfect fit," Wozniak said. "Her practice is really interesting, and she makes really beautiful work."

The artists have since begun opening the studio to the public through fashion sketching nights, upcycling events, workshops, and pop-up sales. The next live fashion illustration night is on Nov. 3, and Piccolo Coffee Lab will hold a pop-up in the space on Oct. 17. The programming allows visitors to see the artists' work while learning about clothing construction, fashion illustration, and textile art, Wozniak said. Augusta also offers alterations and upcycling, as well as custom-made pieces and ready-to-wear fashion.

The arrangement could offer a model for community leagues looking to make better use of their buildings, Wozniak said. "You have these spaces that are oftentimes underutilized, and you have artists who are always looking for space to work out of, so I think it makes a lot of sense."

Wozniak's proposal for the league included ways she'd like to engage the community through programming. One example of that engagement was Community League Day on Sept. 19, where Westmount residents visited for coffee, tea, and tours around the space. Wozniak said the neighbours are excited to have the workshops in their backyard, especially ones focusing on sustainable fashion.

"I feel like there's a really big interest in altering clothing and repurposing clothing that they already have, so I've gotten a lot of requests on that," Wozniak said.

The studio represents a significant step in Augusta's growth, Wozniak said. "We started in my parents' basement, and then I went to my basement in my own house, and then here," she said. "So this is a big step up."

While Edmonton's fashion sector remains smaller than those in larger centres, Wozniak said that leaves room for local designers to help shape what it becomes. "I think it's small but mighty, what we have going on here," Wozniak said. "If you don't have that space, you can also create it, which is what we're attempting to do."

Repairing and repurposing clothing is part of a larger effort to insert more circularity into the fashion economy. Josephine Nakafeero of the Edmonton Sustainable Fashion Show and Jose House of Creations has been working towards that project in various ways, including a community-focused climate workshop to be held on Oct. 30.