Sydney Institute - 120 Years Celebration

Style, Scissors
and a Fantasy
The Alina Galasso
Retrospective
3 – 10 June 2011
MORE THAN YOU IMAGINE

About the exhibition
A woman of style and grace, Alina
Galasso was the driving force behind one
of the Australian fashion industry’s most
innovative businesses, Fabric Fantasy.
Fabric Fantasy was an institution, a
meeting place for the leading lights of
the artistic community. Fashion and
costume designers, socialites, entertainers
and students passed through its doors
seeking the most impressive fabrics
from the leading couture fabric houses
in the world.
Couturiers Christopher Essex, Lawrence
Geor, Jonathan Ward and Mel Clifford
sourced exclusive fabrics for their
clientele from the Fabric Fantasy
collection. And designers Alex Perry,
Collette Dinnigan, Catherine Martin, Lizzy
Gardiner, Kit Willow, Michelle Jank and
Hanna Kossowska were mentored by
Alina early in their careers.
Perhaps the Alina Galasso and Fabric
Fantasy story is best told through
the sumptuous textiles and personal
garments showcased in this exhibition.
The textiles
Fine wools and silk, delicate laces,
luxurious brocades, embroideries and
accessories – all hand-selected by Alina
Galasso in Italy, and imported into
Australia for sale through Fabric Fantasy
from its grand opening in 1974 to the
farewell sale in 2005.
The garments
Each custom-made from these fabrics
for Alina Galasso by the foremost
Sydney couturiers of the time – including
Christopher Essex and Mel Clifford.
The costumes
From the Opera Australia archive and
the personal wardrobe of cabaret artist,
Maria Venuti.
Also on display will be pieces from the
TAFE NSW – Sydney Institute costume
and fashion student archive – using fabrics
generously supplied via the patronage of
Alina Galasso and Fabric Fantasy.
This is Alina Galasso’s legacy.

Style, Scissors and a Fantasy - The Alina Galasso Retrospective
Message from Sydney Institute
Fashion at TAFE NSW
has come a long way
since classes in Tailors’
Cutting, Dresscutting
and Dressmaking started
at Sydney Technical
College in 1892.
Nowadays, TAFE NSW – Sydney Institute
is recognised as one of the most
prestigious destinations in Australia for
aspiring fashion and costume design
students. And it’s little wonder. Some
of the most iconic names in Australian
fashion, including designers Nicky
Zimmermann, Alex Perry, Matthew Eager
and Akira Isogawa all made their debuts
right here at Sydney Institute, as did
costume designers Margot Wilson and
Alexandra Sommer.
As part of our 120th birthday celebrations
this year, we are very proud to be hosting
Style, Scissors and a Fantasy: The Alina
Galasso Retrospective.
Alina Galasso was the driving force
behind one of the Australian fashion
industry’s most innovative businesses,
Fabric Fantasy. She was also a great
supporter and patron of TAFE NSW
teachers and students of fashion and
costume design, donating high quality
fabric to the Fashion Department,
sponsoring students to enter fashion
competitions and generously donating to
TAFE NSW fashion graduation events.
Fortunately for current and future
students of fashion and costume design
at Sydney Institute, her legacy will live on
in the Alina Galasso Trust. You can learn
more about this inspirational woman and
the Alina Galasso Trust in this booklet,
and of course as you stroll through the
exhibition itself.
We at Sydney Institute could not be
more proud of how far we’ve come and
how many lives we’ve changed, since our
beginnings as Sydney Technical College
in 1891.
I hope you’ll enjoy this fantastic event and
that you are able to join us at other 120th
anniversary events throughout the year.
David Riordan
Institute Director

Message from
Fashion Group International of Sydney
Fashion Group International (FGI) of Sydney would like to
congratulate TAFE NSW – Sydney Institute on its grand 120 year
history of being at the forefront of vocational education and training
in Australia.
FGI Sydney is greatly honoured to partner with Sydney Institute
in hosting Style, Scissors and a Fantasy - the Alina Galasso
Retrospective, which celebrates the life, work and foresight of a
truly remarkable woman, Alina Galasso. This illustrious exhibition acknowledges her
important contribution to Australian fashion as a passionate leader, mentor, patron,
friend and advisor.
FGI Sydney is committed to the promotion of educational programs devoted to fashion
and fashion-related businesses, and also to helping its members become more effective
in their professional lives. Therefore I am delighted to also know that this occasion
is providing the platform for Angelique Ristwej, Alina’s daughter, to announce the
establishment of the Alina Galasso Trust, which will award scholarships to deserving
TAFE fashion and costume students each year, assisting them to reach their potential
and realise their dreams.
The establishment of this Trust will continue to create an excitement and passion for
this industry which allows the students to create the innovations which caused Alina to
think ‘I have never seen anything so beautiful, and then the next season I always find
something else just as fantastic. It’s all very exciting.’ This is the core of what makes
this industry so remarkable and urges it forward.
Tina Rigoli
Regional Director
Fashion Group International of Sydney

Style, Scissors and a Fantasy - The Alina Galasso Retrospective
Message from
Powerhouse Museum
I’m delighted to extend on behalf of the staff at the Powerhouse
Museum our warmest congratulations on the occasion of TAFE
NSW – Sydney Institute’s 120th birthday. The Powerhouse
Museum’s close association with Sydney Institute dates back to the
museum’s beginnings in the late 19th century when it was called The
Technological Museum and was housed alongside Sydney Technical
College in what is now known as The Muse at Ultimo College. The
link remains strong; since 1993 we have been thrilled to display the
work of top graduating students from the Fashion Design Studio in our annual Student
Fashion Exhibition. Today it is wonderful to celebrate the link between past and
present, the Museum and The Muse, through the Alina Galasso Retrospective.
The Powerhouse Museum houses one of the largest and most diverse collections of
international and Australian fashion, dress and textiles with items ranging from 18th
century embroidered waistcoats and haute couture by Christian Dior to the Speedo
swimwear archive and Catherine Martin’s costume for the films Moulin Rouge and
Australia. Our collection has been enhanced through the acquisition of designs
by some of Sydney Institute’s most successful graduates including Dion Lee and
Akira Isogawa.
More recently we have been delighted to add the Alina Galasso archive plus three of
her favourite textile panels designed by Gianni Versace, all generously donated by her
daughter Angelique Ristwej. We are therefore pleased to be able to support Sydney
Institute’s beautiful exhibition celebrating Alina Galasso’s significant contribution to the
Australian fashion industry.
Dr Dawn Casey PSM FAHA
Director
Powerhouse Museum

A brief history of fashion and costume
training at TAFE NSW – Sydney Institute
Classes in Tailors’ Cutting, Dresscutting
and Dressmaking started at Sydney
Technical College, Ultimo in 1892.
In 1908 classes in Dressmaking, Ladies’
Tailoring, Plain Sewing, Art Needlework,
Millinery and Lacemaking combined
to form the Department of Women’s
Handicrafts, and in 1911 occupied Ultimo
House (the original historic building on
the college site), a space which is now
occupied by Building J.
In 1917 the Department of Women’s
Handicrafts moved from Ultimo
House to rented accommodation in a
Commonwealth Bank building on the
corner of George and Regent Streets. It
was later one of the first departments to
move to East Sydney Technical College
when it opened in 1922.
Mary Ellen Roberts was appointed
Lecturer-in-Charge of the Department of
Women’s Handicrafts on its establishment
in 1908. Her career was cut short in 1928,
at the age of 58. However, her ideas
dominated the teaching of Women’s
Handicrafts until at least the 1960s.
It was not until 1962 that the Department
of Women’s Handicrafts was renamed
School of Fashion. The training on offer
took on a new rigour that was closely
related to the industry it serviced. This
re-birth particularly gained momentum
when Kevin Richardson was appointed
Head of School in 1970.
Fashion Design was first offered at East
Sydney Technical College as Dress Design
in 1950.
The first specialised courses in Theatre
Costume were offered in 1990.
In 2001 the courses offered at East
Sydney started to re-locate to Ultimo,
with Fashion Technology and Theatre
Costume moving first followed a few
years later by Fashion Design.
Courses offered range across the full
spectrum of qualifications available
in Vocational Education and Training,
and continue to this day to have an
outstanding reputation in the fashion and
costume industries.

Style, Scissors and a Fantasy - The Alina Galasso Retrospective
Graduates, who are also 120 Years
Ambassadors, include fashion designers
Nicky Zimmermann, Alex Perry, Matthew
Eager, Akira Isogawa, and costume
designers Margot Wilson and Alexandra
Sommer.
Above: Finalist in
Fashion Industry of
Australia Award, 1999
Right: Fashion students
in part of collection
designed for Disney
promotion, 1989
Below: At East Sydney
College – Christopher
Essex, Rosemary
McArdle (from Fabric
Fantasy) and Joanne
Lewis (Head Teacher),
1990
Right: Jewel in the Crown,
from the TAFE student
archive – Finalist in the
Fashion Industry of
Australia Award, ‘Fantasy’
category, 1994

The Fabric Fantasy Story
‘… the exquisite fabric from the oh so stunningly stylish Alina Galasso
who owned the world-renowned Fabric Fantasy in Surry Hills ...
she lives in my soul, thanks to her spirit, and in my wardrobe.’
Maria Venuti pays tribute in her autobiography, A Whole Load of Front
The concept of Fabric Fantasy began
modestly in 1974 when Italian-born Alina
Galasso recognised a business opportunity
within the fashion industry supply chain. A
successful venture grew out of a great idea.
When Alina was offered excess fabric
from a Sydney garment manufacturer who
had finished the season’s production, she
reflected that if he had left-over fabrics,
others must too. Within a short time
Alina was sourcing surplus fabric stock
from numerous Australian fashion labels
and selling these fabrics at local
suburban markets.
The business gained momentum and in
1978 Alina opened a permanent location
in Ann Street in Sydney’s Surry Hills
rag trade precinct, under the banner of
Fabric Fantasy. In 1980, Fabric Fantasy
moved to a larger warehouse site at 110
Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills. By
1985 Fabric Fantasy’s growing success saw
several stores operating in metropolitan
and regional NSW.
By the mid 1980s Alina had introduced an
imported shipment of fine Italian linens,
wool and silks to Fabric Fantasy. In 1986
her marriage to Italian tile importer, Erminio
Galasso, gave her the opportunity to
consolidate business with Italian fashion
houses.
By the late 1980s she was travelling to Italy
twice a year, filling shipping containers with
stock. These textiles were crafted by some
of the most esteemed textile manufacturers
and suppliers to European haute couture.
With each season came large quantities of
exclusive textiles from prestigious European
fashion design houses such as Valentino,
Versace, Giorgio Armani, Gai Mattiolo, Nina
Ricci and Roberto Cavalli.
In 1995 an evening wear department was
established specialising in stunning printed

Style, Scissors and a Fantasy - The Alina Galasso Retrospective
Alina Castronini born
on 6 February in
Udine, Italy
1946 1952
The Castronini family
emigrates from Italy to
Australia
Alina spends the year
in Italy, enters and wins
the Miss Friuli-Venezia
Giulia pageant, and
is a finalist in the
Miss Italia quest
1963
1964
Alina returns to
Australia and starts
a 10-year modelling
career
Alina marries Alan
Crossley. They develop
and work the Royal
Oak and the Imperial
Hotels in Sydney, and
open Alina’s Bistro
1966
1969
Angelique
is born

Alina starts selling
fabrics from Australian
labels at local markets -
Caringbah, Bankstown,
Flemington, Paddy’s
and Wollongong
1974 1978
Lease on a small
shop in Ann St,
Surry Hills
Lease on large
warehouse at 110
Commonwealth St,
Surry Hills
1980 1981
Opens Newcastle
store
Investigative trips
to Italy to source
suppliers of
European fabrics
1983
Opens Nowra
store
Opens Wollongong
store with brother,
Dino Castronini
1985

Style, Scissors and a Fantasy - The Alina Galasso Retrospective
Alina marries Erminio
Galasso. Starts to
import Italian textiles
from the houses of
Valentino, Marco
Lagattolla, Zibetti e
Orsini, Gai Mattiolo
1986 1988
Opens
Sylvania
store
Sources couture
buttons and
accessories from Italy
1990
1992
Starts to import
Italian textiles from
Versace, Cuccirelli,
Luigi Verga
Starts to import fabrics
and laces from France
from the houses of
Darquer and Solstiss,
and from Strella Fabrics
in the United Kingdom
1994
Starts to supply
fabrics to Opera
Australia
Fabrics used for costumes
in the movie The
Adventures of Priscilla,
Queen of the Desert
1995
Branches into
sidelines of
Italian home
wares and
handbags

Evening wear
department formed
within Surry Hills
business
1997
Meets Giorgio
Armani in Milan and
begins business
relationship with the
House of Armani
Starts to import
Italian textiles from
Roberto Cavalli
1999 2000
Fabrics used
for costumes
in the movie
Moulin Rouge
Fabrics used
for costumes in
the movie Star
Wars Episode III:
Revenge of the Sith
2003
2005
Farewell Sale,
Alina Galasso
retires
Establishment and launch
at TAFE NSW – Sydney
Institute, of the Alina Galasso
Trust with Angelique Ristwej
as Trustee.
2011

Style, Scissors and a Fantasy - The Alina Galasso Retrospective
silks, opulent embroideries, fine laces,
sequinned and beaded laces, luxurious
wools, Duchess silk satins, ruche and
beaded velvets.
New collections for each season were
presented to customers with a muchanticipated
grand unveiling, promising
‘some of the most beautiful fabrics in
the world’.
Alina’s motivation for establishing Fabric
Fantasy originated from her belief ‘women
should dress well, because when they do -
they feel better, look better and
think better’.
For 30 years Alina strove to acquaint
her customers with quality, beauty and
innovation. She gave them unprecedented
access to exclusive Italian fabrics.
Alina was a great supporter and patron
of TAFE teachers and students studying
fashion and costume. She donated fabric
to the Fashion Department to help students
develop their collections. This gave them
the opportunity to work with inspirational
quality fabrics they would otherwise
not have the opportunity to use. She
sponsored students who entered national
and international fashion competitions and
also provided a generous cash award at the
annual TAFE Fashion Graduation.
Designers for Opera Australia, film, theatre
and the entertainment world came to
Fabric Fantasy for glamorous and exotic
textiles. Costumes made from these
fabrics and trims featured in the films
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of
the Desert, Moulin Rouge, and Star Wars
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.
The costumes were recognised in several
major international film industry awards in
the category of Best Costume Design, and
earned Oscar, BAFTA and AFI Awards for
the films The Adventures of Priscilla,
Queen of the Desert (1994) and Moulin
Rouge (2000).
Fabric Fantasy was more than just a retail
store selling beautiful fabrics. It became
a meeting place for fashion designers,
the artistic and theatrical community and
discerning customers who sought advice
and inspiration from Alina.
From 1975 to its closure in 2005, Fabric
Fantasy played an important role in
providing Australian consumers, fashion
designers and the artistic community with
access to the most beautiful and innovative
textiles in the world.
This is an edited version of the Fabric
Fantasy story. You can read the complete
story at www.sit.nsw.edu.au/imagine.

About Alina Galasso
‘Your style is your confidence and your way of life.’
Alina Castronini was born on 6 February
1946 in northern Italy. She emigrated to
Australia in 1952 at the age of six.
Returning to Italy in 1963, Alina reconnected
with her extended Italian family. During her
stay she won the a regional beauty pageant,
making her eligible as a finalist in the 1963
Miss Italia quest, but her strict Italian father’s
plans to return to Australia curtailed that
opportunity. However, the year spent in Italy
awakened a lifelong passion for her origins,
Italian culture, Italian style and la dolce vita.
Back in Australia Alina began a successful
career as a model in the flourishing
Australian fashion industry of the 1960s and
`70s, giving her an insight into the fashion
industry’s workings and providing contacts
which were to prove invaluable.
In 1966 she married Alan Crossley. Their
daughter, Angelique, was born in 1969. In
1974 she began working for a big fashion
house in Surry Hills. This gave her the idea
of purchasing excess stock to sell, firstly
at local markets, then at her own store,
Fabric Fantasy.
Alina Castronini Galasso (1946 – 2009)
Despite her success, Alina never forgot
her heritage. Her deep love for Italy was
reflected in her generosity and passionate
support for Sydney’s Italo-Australian
community, from the growth of the Fogolar
Furlan Veneto Club Sydney, started by
her father and brother in 1968, to wider
cultural and charitable projects over
subsequent decades.
Alina Galasso’s business acumen,
impeccable sense of style and her discerning
eye for selecting exceptional fabrics and
accessories played an important role in the
Australian fashion industry.
Over her 30-year career in the fashion
industry, from 1975 to 2005, Alina became a
well-loved figure. In reaching her potential
she also helped others reach theirs. She
will always be remembered as a mentor,
a patron, a friend and an adviser to many
who had the good fortune to have been
encouraged and inspired by her.
‘Era una grande donna con un grande cuore
e una grande fede.’

Style, Scissors and a Fantasy - The Alina Galasso Retrospective
The Alina Galasso Trust
has been established to
preserve my mother’s
legacy, celebrate her
significant contribution
to Australian fashion and
give back to an industry
that gave her so much.
Alina Galasso played an important role
in introducing European fabrics to the
Australian market through her company,
Fabric Fantasy (1975-2005). For over 30
years Fabric Fantasy provided Australian
consumers, fashion designers and the
theatrical and artistic communities with
access to some of the most beautiful and
innovative textiles in the world.
Alina was a well loved figure in the
fashion industry, having been a mentor
to many notable Australian designers
and couturiers in the early days of their
careers, and later becoming their friend
and adviser.
Alina was also a great supporter and
patron to TAFE teachers and students
studying fashion and costume. With this
rich history in mind, the Trust has partnered
with TAFE NSW – Sydney Institute to
reward and support students from three
streams of study: Fashion Design, Fashion
Technology and Theatre Costume.
The three annual scholarships aim to
encourage and support students to
achieve to the best of their ability while
studying fashion and costume, a goal my
mother was most passionate about.
I hope future recipients of the Alina
Galasso Trust Scholarships are
inspired by her life story, and with her
commemorative support go on to reach
their potential in their chosen fashion and
costume careers.
Buona fortuna!
Angelique Ristwej
Trustee
Alina Galasso Trust

This framed drawing by Jennifer
Irwin was presented to Alina
Galasso by Miranda Brock, on
behalf of Opera Australia, on
her retirement in 2005. The
inscription on the back reads:
‘Thank you for making our designs
spectacular over the years. The
Fabric Fantasy tradition continues
well into the future.’
This costume was worn by
soprano Leanne Kenneally as
Juliette during the Masked Ball
scene of the opera Romeo
and Juliette.

Style, Scissors and a Fantasy - The Alina Galasso Retrospective
Right: Cabaret artist Maria Venuti
in Christopher Essex couture.
Strella fabrics from Fabric Fantasy.
Left: In homage to Mariano Fortuny, students
of the Diploma of Fashion at Sydney Institute
reproduced his designs in hand-pleated Fuji silk
and printed silk velvet and organza in costumes
for the stage in 2005.

Sydney Institute’s
120 Year Ambassadors:
the fashion and costume
design contingent
Francisnelli Bailoni
dos Santos
Mary Anne Lawler Andrew McDonald
Jean Carroll
OAM
Jon Schembri Alexandra
Sommer
Ruth Tickle

Jade
Monteverdi
Matthew Eager
Alice Vargas
Style, Scissors and a Fantasy - The Alina Galasso Retrospective
Nicholas Huxley
Patricia Pegorer Alex Perry Jennifer Regan
Elliot Ward-Fear
Akira Isogawa
Margot Wilson
Dion Lee
Nicky Zimmermann

www.sit.nsw.edu.au/imagine