Rothwell resident Jasmine Zarza has taken out the Abstract Form category at the Australian Wearable Art Festival 2026, championing the idea that the things that make us different, imperfect or a little jagged can also be what makes us beautiful.
Her winning design, Broken Glass, transforms everyday salon waste into a sculptural garment – a fitting expression, both practically and metaphorically, of a creator who is not only a hairdresser and salon owner but also a fibre artist, designer and mother.
According to Jasmine, owner of Village Obsessions (Macramé Art Couture), it all began when she applied to Australian Wearable Art after being inspired by “What It Sounds Like” from KPop Demon Hunters and its message of self-acceptance.
Her concept took further shape when she was styling her clients’ hair, and “thinking about the beautiful women who sit in my chair and share their lives and their stories with me.”
“Happy or sad, we talk, we share, we laugh, we sometimes cry — and then we keep going,” Jasmine said.
“All of those stories, emotions and experiences are embedded into the artwork through the materials I collected and the way they have been transformed.”
Jasmine gathered gold salon foils from her salon and tested different materials, including resin, in the process of bringing her concept to life.
“The artwork evolved through a lot of experimenting, creating, pulling things apart and trying again until the materials started to tell the story I had in my head.”
From Personal Recovery to Art Couture
Jasmine said her creative journey took an unexpected turn after a 2018 car accident left her with impaired shoulder mobility and temporarily unable to continue hairdressing – an experience that revealed “our experiences, broken pieces and all, help shape who we become.”
After teaching herself macramé to keep herself occupied, she began selling her work at the Redcliffe Markets in 2019 before expanding into clothing, macramé wings and wearable art.
“So much of my creative journey has grown from right here in the Moreton Bay community, and I’m incredibly grateful for that,” she said.
“Broken or not, we function – we continue to live, love and create our lives.”
For information about Jasmine’s work, search Village Obsessions on Facebook and Instagram.
Photographer: Colin Mclellan
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