Onesie World Turns Brisbane into a Living Work of Art

Make the work. Wear the work. Be the work. Onesie World is one of the most colourful and interactive additions to this year’s Melt Festival, inviting Brisbane locals to help transform the city into a living, moving artwork.

Created by artist and fashion researcher Adele Varcoe, the large-scale project explores identity, belonging and connection through the simple pleasure of making and wearing clothes together. 

At its centre are 1,000 vibrant onesies featuring an original design created exclusively for Melt by acclaimed Yuwi, Meriam and South Sea Islander artist Dylan Mooney.

From October 8-23, Brisbane Powerhouse and the State Library of Queensland will host a series of free, two-hour community sewing workshops. Experienced makers and complete beginners are equally welcome, with facilitators available to teach participants how to construct the garments. 

There is no need to bring equipment or even know how to thread a needle, just arrive ready to learn, create and connect.

The project’s community spirit extends beyond the sewing table. Participants make onesies for other people rather than taking home the garment they complete, turning every stitch into a gift for a stranger. 

On River Pride Parade day on October 24 (learn more about it on p.12), the finished works will be released back into the community. Visitors can collect and customise a free Adele Varcoe x Dylan Mooney onesie before joining a spectacular sea of colour along the Brisbane River.

Only 1,000 garments will be available, ranging from small baby sizes through to adult 4XL. They will be distributed on a first in, first dressed basis, and registering interest sadly does not guarantee one. The only condition for successful wearers is wonderfully simple: put it on, join the celebration and keep wearing it until bedtime.

Set against the River Pride Parade’s flotilla, music and riverside crowds, Onesie World promises an unforgettable expression of collective queer joy. It collapses the distance between artist and audience, allowing people to create the spectacle rather than just watch it pass.

Workshops: 8-23 October
Reveal: 24 October
Brisbane Powerhouse & State Library of Queensland
melt.org.au