Sally Huguenin has been a practising textile designer/ maker since the age of 6. Since then she has dabbled in wearables, furnishings, soft sculpture... and everything in between.
Based in Wangaratta in north-east Victoria, she balances her textile practise with her new role as mum to Henry and her part-time position as Exhibitions Officer at the Wangaratta exhibitions Gallery where she is inspired and encouraged by working with other people's art.
Her current work has a focus on recycled materials, including recycled & vintage fabrics, remnants from past projects, and other reclaimed bits & pieces. Many works feature recycled nylon-coated stainless steel cable, which comes from remnants produced when hanging other people's artworks in the Gallery. Playing with these scraps of cable was an important catalyst in the development of the current redsally style, way back in 2006.
Screenprinting, embroidery, and silver leaf are used to create unique designs and textures, resulting in beautifully resolved pieces which are incredibly eye-catching and distinctive. Her jewellery is incredibly lightweight and comfortable to wear, with sustainability a prominent aspect of how and why she creates.
Sally is interested in concepts, techniques and materials which have a strong history or story, and these personal connections are an important element of her work.
Her work is strongly influenced by a Japanese aesthetic, developed while living in Nara Prefecture near Osaka & Kyoto in 1998/99. Her background in Environmental Science and Cultural Heritage also influences her designs, demonstrating a strong interest in native Australian flora & fauna, and the cultural eccentricities of Australia.
Sally regularly undertakes commissions for bespoke pieces of jewellery, often using materials supplied by the client. A redsally piece is an innovative way to preserve a special piece of clothing or fabric for posterity.
While some materials are too gorgeous to only use once, each piece remains individual due to the nature of the hand construction and different combinations of materials.
