MWV

08/10/2025

Fashion for All- Meet the Artists

Rahila Zeeshan is a visual artist currently residing in Melbourne, Australia. Most of her work showcases her passion for using bold, vibrant colours. She loves experimenting and enjoys working with acrylic, ink and watercolours. She gets her inspirations through her surroundings, therefore her artwork reflects her versatile life. She has studied textile design from her hometown Karachi in Pakistan.

📍MPavilion Parkville
📅 21-24 OCT, 11am to 2pm

Get more info here:https://events.unimelb.edu.au/MPavilion/event/48274-fashion
-for-all

Proudly supported by

22/09/2025

Last workshop we brought our members together to share their unique plant knowledge and lived experiences.

As part of MWV’s project “Her Plants: Preserving Migrant and Refugee Women’s Traditional Ecological Knowledge”, we explored our cultural heritage and deep connections to nature — printing our own designs to symbolise where and how we
each learned about the plants that have shaped our lives.

Each design told a story. It’s our way of honouring, preserving, and passing on the wisdom that has been entrusted to us.

This project forms part of Art Manager Sofie Dieu’s PhD research with .design.mada and , and is
proudly supported by Wyndham City Council and the Australian Government’s Multicultural Grassroots Initiatives Grant Program.

10/09/2025

Celebrate fashion, identity and self-expression at Fashion For All!

As part of Melbourne Fashion Week, we’re putting the spotlight on the creativity and craftsmanship of migrant and refugee women designers.

Style your own look, strike a pose, and explore how fashion and identity intertwine through the vibrant garments created by members of our very own community.

📍MPavilion Parkville
📅 21-24 Oct, 11am to 2pm
Get more info here [through the link in our bio]:
https://events.unimelb.edu.au/MPavilion/event/48274-fashion-for-all

Presenters:
Rahila Zeeshan
Leila Ashtiani
Abouk Giir .giir
Humaira Fayazi
Sofie Dieu

Proudly supported by

04/09/2025

MWV organised two excursions with to introduce native plants to our members in the West and in Melbourne Cbd. Our guide, Meyer, was fantastic!

We learned how the plants are traditionally used by First Nations here in Victoria in basketry, medicine, musical instrument making and of course food. We also learnt how they form an eco-system and the place of native and invasive animals within this eco-system as much as the role we play in
it.

The Monday excursion was sunny and we walked for 2 hours in Maribyrnong Park while the Saturday excursion was a little fresher and stormy!

Both were equally informative, playful and a great opportunity to be active.

18/08/2025

Ready to strike a pose?

Join us at MPavilion Parkville for Fashion For All! – a Melbourne Fashion Week event celebrating self-expression through styling, playful conversation, and unexpected fashion moments.

Create your own unique look using garments and fabrics designed by talented migrant and refugee women. Strike a pose to capture your personal fashion moment while exploring the beautiful connection between fashion and identity.

📍MPavilion Parkville
📅 21-24 OCT, 11am to 2pm

Get more info here: https://events.unimelb.edu.au/MPavilion/event/48274-fashion
-for-all

Presenters:
Rahila Zeeshan
Leila Ashtiani
Abouk Giir
Humaira Fayazi
Sofie Dieu

Proudly supported by

14/08/2025

Visit to Clayton Library

✅Story time
✅Info session
✅ Sing together

Supported by City of Monash

05/06/2025

🎨🐨 Reconciliation Week at Playgroup! 🖤💛❤️
This week at Mother's playgroup, we got crafty for Reconciliation Week! The kids had so much fun painting boomerangs and decorating native animals like kangaroos, koalas and echidnas. 🦘🐨🦔

While we painted and played, we also talked about the importance of First Nations culture and showing respect for Country and community. It was such a great way for little hands and big hearts to learn together. 💛

29/05/2025

✨Calling All Creative Migrant and Refugee Women in Melbourne!✨

If you live near Melbourne and are passionate about creativity, plants and their use in
medicine, food or ceremonies, then you could be one of the 20 women from diverse cultural backgrounds to be part of a special research journey that celebrates storytelling, illustration, and textile making in community.

There are 2 info sessions:
-Wednesday 16/07 from 6.30-7.30pm at the Ross House in Melbourne CBD
(247/251 Flinders Lane) RSVP here https://forms.gle/SD4CFbM1tRxbUFpm6
- Monday 14/07 from 11-12pm at the Penrose Promenade Community Centre (83
Penrose Promenade, Tarneit) RSVP here https://forms.gle/BSKe4T44df99caen6

We will talk about:
● Creative gatherings
● Hands-on textile and craft sessions
● Inspiring local excursions
● Learn from certified naturopaths
● Interview and share stories with each other in a safe, welcoming space

As a participant, you could take part in all these activities for free! This is more than just research, it’s a vibrant space for expression, friendship, and cultural exchange. No
experience needed — just bring your voice, your heritage, and your creative spirit!
You have questions? Email Sofie at sofie.dieu@monash.edu to learn more about the
workshops or to be sent the Explanatory Statement which covers topics such as what the research involves, what the activities are, or the benefits and risks of this study.
This Monash University research is proudly supported by Multicultural Women Victoria.

Let’s grow, create, and share stories together.

09/05/2025

The photoshoot of the Multicultural Women Fashion project was such a vibrant day! In a studio filled with natural light, creativity, and the spirit of collaboration.
Each designer—Sofie Dieu, Leila Ashtiani, Rahila Zeeshan, Humaira Fayazi, and Abouk Giir—poured their hearts into designing outfits that reflect both personal identity and their respective heritage. From makeup to selecting accessories or choosing the perfect models, every detail was thoughtfully curated.

📸 The Creative Team:
Photographer –
Makeup Artist –
Fashion Stylist –
Photoshoot Assistant –

👗 The Models:
was wearing Sofie’s cape
wore her sister Abouk’s outfit
gave life to Rahila’s jacket
.sr was wearing Leila’s jacket
took flight with Humaira’s winged dress

Each model embodied the spirit and story behind the outfits beautifully. The day wrapped up with heartfelt thanks, new connections, shared stories and a deeper appreciation for the richness of multicultural fashion.
This project is supported by the Victoria Women’s Benevolent Trust alongside the Australian Government’s Multicultural Grassroots Initiative program.

07/05/2025

Monash Women Circle outing to Fitzroy Garden

04/05/2025

03/05/2025

Five Artists created a capsule collection for the Multicultural Women Fashion project that was influenced by the bold women in their respective cultures.

To symbolise liberation for Afghan women, Humaira Fayazi was inspired by legendary Dr Sima Samar who created 100 schools for girls in Afghanistan. Humi designed her dress as wings, a recurring symbol of freedom in her art practice.

Leila Ashtiani created a statement jacket from her fabric, inspired by her admiration for the art of Iranian artist Shirin Nishat.
The African traditional garb, which has become less distinctive in the younger society, has been revitalized by Abouk Giir.

Inspired by her hometown's resilient and patriotic female figure, Marvi, Rahila Zeehan fashioned a velvet jacket with a fabric trail.
Sofie Dieu chooses to create a cape inspired by her Gaulish culture and the emblematic figure from her hometown Joan of Arc, a rebel young woman who challenged gender roles.

This project has given a space to share the unheard stories of women’s bravery among these five artists and the resulting designs were photographed with a crew of multicultural talents.

📸 behind the scenes Laura Alicia Gonzales
👗stylist
💄MU&H
Model
Project manager Sofie Dieu
Photoshoot assistant
Dress design giir
leila ashtiani artist

This project is supported by the Victoria Women's Benevolent Trust alongside the Australian Government's Multicultural Grassroots Initiative program.