Sewing, creating and gifting provides Tasmanian designer Anna Petrovic with such satisfaction and purpose that she is currently evolving her creative adventures into a purpose-led business.

Anna’s mum taught her the basics as a young child, she learned more at sewing class in school and has continued to be self-taught through the process of creating and sewing outfits for her daughters.

“I’ve made my daughters Highland Dance outfits, clothes for all my children and I created repurposed garments for sale at The Redress Hub Tasmania',” Anna said.

“My passion is for sewing, crafting and repurposing anything old and discarded. I have lots of ideas for my EFWA Upcycling Challenge creation, my current one is using discarded hessian coffee bags, a shower curtain roll of fabric acquired some years ago and woollen jumpers.”

“I love breathing new life into discarded garments and repurposing them. I’ve created garments from old business shirts and scarfs, and like making them reversible so they can be worn a many ways.”

As well as taking her place in the EFWA Upcycling Challenge, Anna has entered the Redressed: Refashion competition TAF 2024 and was Amateur Winner Skills & Craftmanship and Amateur Winner Ability to be Replicated.

It’s currently morphed from my original idea to discarded hessian coffee bags, a shower curtain roll of fabric I acquired years ago and woollen jumpers. It’s still a work in progress.