Costume Pardi Mardi Gradi

This February, to celebrate Sydney Mardi Gras 2024, the Opera House is holding a workshop – Costume Pardi Mardi Gradi - for adults aged 16+ to create unique and custom-made tote bags for their Mardi Gras celebrations.

Sally Jackson (Sydney-based couture designer) and Gary Bigeni (Queer fashion designer) will lead the workshop, showing participants how to work with recycled and sustainable fashion materials, generously donated by Upparel, to repurpose material offcuts into glamorous costume accessories.

Participants will receive an upcycled denim bag lovingly hand-dyed in Gary Bigeni's bold signature colourful style. Each bag is constructed from upcycled garments painted separately, creating an original work of art on each bag. Bigeni's slow hand dyeing techniques achieve brilliant colours that are ready to wear.

Customisation of these accessories will also be shown through fringing, beading and other textile manipulation techniques to create a bespoke to flaunt wherever they celebrate Sydney Mardi Gras, as well as learn the essential and dynamic history of upcycling textile waste with handy tips to incorporate this thinking and making into your everyday life.

Of course, no workshop is complete without the necessary catwalk and photoshoot to proudly display your creations with friends.