Tina Knitwear was a successful made to order knitwear business in Brighton from the mid-1960s to around 2010, run by Assunta and Franco Liburti. Daughter Melissa Persi writes: Our parents Assunta (Mum) and Franco (Dad) Liburti ran a successful made to order knitwear business in Brighton from the mid-1960s to around 2010. Assunta was affectionately known to her family as Assuntina, therefore the business was named "Tina Knitwear" after her. Assunta and Franco were born in the beautiful seaside town of Terracina in Italy in 1933 and 1930 respectively. As was so common in Italy in the 1950s, Assunta who was in her late teens and early twenties learnt the intricate skills of machine knitting, dressmaking and pattern making. Franco on the other hand, learnt the building trade with his 2 brothers and specialised in bricklaying and tiling. As was so common after the war, Assunta and Franco yearned for a better life so they decided that they would get engaged and then migrate to Australia to be married and raise their family in Australia, a land of much opportunity which they no longer felt their beloved Italy held for them. Assunta migrated to Australia first in 1957 and later Franco joined her in 1958 where they were married. For the first few years, Franco (also known as Frank) worked as bricklayer /tiler on buildings such as the Robert Menzies building at Monash University in Clayton and various buildings in the Melbourne CBD. Assunta on the other hand put her machine knitting skills to use working in factories doing piece machine knitting for various knitwear companies. The hours were long, the conditions were difficult, and travel was onerous without a car. After their 2 older children were born, it was decided that dad would leave the building trade and they would start their own made to order knitwear business. That way they could work from home and raise their family together. Mum taught dad everything he needed to know so he could operate the knitwear machinery. They purchased COPPO knitting machines from Italy and a Linking machine from Germany. Initially they had a knitwear shopfront in Bay Street Brighton where a store assistant would take the orders and client’s measurements and Assunta would then make the garments from a small workshop in their home. Unfortunately, the assistants were not skilled dressmakers and often measurements and orders were incorrectly taken. Assunta being the perfectionist and highly skilled machinist that she was, decided that she needed to oversee the entire process from meeting the client, to taking their order, right thru to the fittings and completion of the garment. It therefore made sense that they should close the shop front and run their business from their own home in Brighton and hence “Tina Knitwear” was born. Together, for more than 40 years they ran their very respected and successful business and were well known in the Bayside area. They specialised in made to order knitwear for both men and women using mainly pure wool (from Patons, Wangaratta Mills, Japan and Italy) but also lurex and estacel. Over those years, many of their clients became their close friends. It wasn't unusual for clients to come to order garments and then end up in the kitchen chatting over a cup of Italian espresso coffee and homemade biscuits. Some of their clients were especially memorable and became lifelong friends. Mrs Connell was a dear friend of mum’s, each year she would buy tickets for the “Gown of the Year” fashion show. She would insist on taking Assunta and her 2 daughters so that we could see the latest fashions. Then there was their dear friend Ms Griffiths. She had been a Matron nurse at the Queen Victoria Hospital when she met my parents in the 1970s. She returned to live in New Zealand in the 1980s but came back to Melbourne every year to stay for 2 weeks with the sole purpose of visiting my parents (she adored them) and order garments. For those 2 solid weeks, mum and dad would only knit for Ms Griffiths and she would go back to New Zealand with at least 5 or 6 new outfits. I actually think she enjoyed mum’s homemade pasta almost as much as her new clothes! Over the years, my parents learnt to speak English very well given that majority of their clients were not Italian speaking. Their oldest child John born in 1960 learnt to speak English with the help of those clients who were such a big part of our childhood. Mum and dad always went above and beyond to ensure their clients were satisfied. Mum was an absolute perfectionist and it showed in her attention to detail and the quality of their beautiful work. You only need to look at the garments that have stood the test of time or speak to their clients to know that this is true. Their clients would always comment on how well their clothes would last and much of their clients came via word of mouth and recommendations. Occasionally there would be disagreements because mum had found an error in dad's knitting (either a wrong stitch or a sizing mistake mainly) and would ask him to redo a piece, he would argue back saying that it was fine, but we always knew who would win the argument and that the piece would get remade! Similarly, we recall discussions where mum would ask dad to find a particular colour of wool in the garage where the stock was kept. He would try to convince her that they were out of stock of that colour and that the client should choose a different colour. She would insist they had it and then after hours of searching, he would return into the house sheepishly holding the wool! Our childhood is full of beautiful memories of mum and dad always being present, clients coming and going, mum humming her favourite songs as she worked often late into the night and sometimes, we even fell asleep to the hum of the machinery. They put their heart and soul into "Tina Knitwear" and took pride in providing only the best quality garments for their clients. In Italian there is a saying “lei ha le mani d’oro” which literally translated means “she has hands of gold”. Franco enjoyed his work but for Assunta, it was more than just work and there is no better way to describe her skills, passion and dedication to her machine knitting… she truly did have “hands of gold”. We will forever be grateful that our parents’ life journey gave us the opportunity to live in a home filled with creativity, dedication and passion, amazing work ethic and mutual respect, lifelong friendships and a lifetime of love. Thin paper white label with gold printed text.front: An Original by / Tina Knitwearknitwear, clothing, italy, migrants, brighton, knitting machine, linking machine, garments, business, family, community

Canwen Zhao was awarded the $10,000 We The Makers Acquisitive Prize for '35 Life' in 2023. Artist Statement: "35life" is a sustainable fashion project that transforms second-hand clothing materials into urban street outdoor-style products. Highlighting prominent Chinese classic red and green colours not only conveys eastern aesthetics but also adds a sense of unity to the clothing collection. The high-saturation and high-brightness full-colour palette keeps the clothing consistently "fresh," allowing any trendy colours to seamlessly integrate into the project's designs, thus extending the lifespan of the garments. Additionally, all clothing items can quickly transform into a stylish bag for convenient daily carrying and home storage. These bags are made from leftover fabric generated during the production process and serve as original packaging for sale. This approach not only reduces excessive packaging but also enhances the chances of resale in the second-hand market. The project draws inspiration from the traditional Chinese cultural concept of "huo feng ding," meaning "exchange the old for the new." it's also influenced by the designer's personal experience with health issues, making the designs suitable for individuals who can't be exposed to sunlight for extended periods, adapting to the changing urban lifestyle. 35life aims to provide visually pleasing and comfortable dressing experiences for urban dwellers who are busy with work and experience high levels of stress. Unlike traditional design patterns, this project adopts a unique design approach. It selects 3-5 pieces of raw materials based on their colours, and then disassembles them through structural lines. While retaining most of their functionality, these materials are rearranged and assembled on a flat surface before being shaped on a dress form. Subsequently, various ways of creating storage bags are derived from the initial clothing prototypes. After refining the designs, the final products are developed, and similar materials are used to create samples. Therefore, under this design methodology, even for the same garment, it is impossible to produce two identical pieces of clothing. Each garment is truly one-of-a-kind, which enhances its rarity and contributes to the longevity of the fashion pieces. The project includes various types of clothing, each with unique storage methods. This yellow look, named "elegant beach sunscreen monarch," draws its fashion inspiration from traditional Han Chinese attire and its storage concept from the Chinese cultural concept of "jiu jiu gui yi." the design employs flat pattern cutting, utilizing materials from the second-hand market such as beach towels, children's waterproof clothing, and women's dresses. Similar colours and patterns are reassembled through cutting and combining. For the sleeves, quick-drying, sun-protective sport fabric forms the base, overlaid with discarded silk fabric dyed with turmeric and plant dyes. This not only ensures functionality but also adds a sense of elegance. The length can be adjusted using drawstrings. Artist Bio: Zhao Canwen is a multidisciplinary fashion designer with a strong passion for integrating art, history, culture, and sustainable design. With over 15 years of experience in painting, she draws inspiration from ancient Chinese philosophy and aesthetics, which gives her a unique sense of beauty. After 8 years of fashion and art training, she possesses a keen insight into current trends and tends to combine art with commercial needs. Zhao's design style is diverse, characterized by a multidimensional approach, a focus on colour application, and storytelling through details.Outfit consisting of six pieces: - Orange plastic eye wear with green paint - Pair of red and green metal clip on earrings - Red beaded phone case with attached beads on string - Pair of red and green painted running shoes - Yellow and green hooded garment with red piping and zips - Brown bag with green beaded handlessustainable, fashion, we the makers, art, culture, design, chinese philosophy, prize

Sixteen page booklet with printed text, photographs and illustrations in both colour and black and white. Image depicted on the front shows two adults and two children seated in a home environment crocheting. front: [printed] WR / Guide to successful homemaking / Volume 2 / CROCHET MADE EASYfashion, women, magazine, knitting, crochet, home life

Anlaby’s sheep are born, bred and shorn at their farm located in South Australia. The wool is then scoured at Michels in Adelaide, combed and turned into Tops at Cashmere Connections in Bacchus Marsh, and then Spun and Woven at a historic mill in Scotland named Johnstons of Elgin. Sewing is completed by artisan seamstresses and packaging is from a local Adelaide family business. Established in 1839 just North of the Barossa Valley in South Australia, Anlaby is the oldest continuing merino sheep stud on mainland Australia. Fredrick Dutton employed Alexander Buchannan to bring sheep to the buoyant market in Adelaide from Goulburn NSW. Several others speculated on possible successes, including Buchannan and a flock of 18,000 sheep were walked overland. The trek took nine months. During this time the Adelaide market prices had collapsed. Having found land with a spring of sweet water, Dutton decided to keep his flock of 5,000 stud sheep and purchased a small parcel of land that is now called Anlaby. The property prospered and Buchannan was employed as manager for the next 25 years. At its height Anlaby covered 250sq miles – 160,000 acres and employed 70 men. The first bale of wool from South Australia to be auctioned in London came from Anlaby. The Anlaby stud also provided the foundation ewes for the well-known Bungaree merino stud in 1841. With prosperity came a large house and gardens for Buchannan in 1861. Anlaby was inherited by Henry Dutton from his uncle in 1895. Squire Dutton, as he was known, continued to grow the family’s fortunes and spent his money expanding the grand home and creating a magnificent 10-acre garden. Today the Anlaby merino stud continues and both the house and garden are undergoing significant restorations. Wool continues to be one of the most important elements at Anlaby. It was the source of great wealth in the past and is now directly tied into Anlaby’s future. Anlaby makes beautiful woollen scarves, lady’s wraps, exquisite throws and small range of baby blankets. From the moment a lamb is conceived and through its entire lifecycle Anlaby look after nutrition and quality of life. Twice a year the sheep are shorn and the wool using minimal treatment is washed, combed, spun and woven into the Anlaby product range. This attention to detail results in the buttery softness distinctive of the exclusive woollen range.Throw came with packaging and information card which reads ANLABY in large capital lettering at the top and bottom of either side of card. Throw is white with green edging of 15cm on two edges. Within this edging is the sewing of a tree in white.Wording: ANLABY Pure Anlaby Merino Wool Oldest merino stud on mainland Australia Made in Australia Card. Wording: ANLABY Certificate of Authentication THIS CERTIFICATE AUTHENTICATES THE PRODUCT TO BE 100% AUSTRALIAN AND MADE FROM PURE MERINO WOOL PRODUCED EXCLUSIVELY AT THE ANLABY MERINO STUD IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA THE ANLABY FLOCK (REGISTERED NUMBER 102) IS THE OLDEST CONTINUOSLY OPERATING MERINO STUD IN MAINLAND AUSTRALIA. THE MERINO FLOCK AT ANLABY MAINTAINS A GENETIC LINE STARTED IN 1839 THIS PRODUCT IS PART OF THE LIMMITED EDITION RANGE PRODUCED AT ANLABY. IN 2014 WE CELEBRATED ANLABY’S 175TH ANNIVERSAY ANLABY Reverse. Wording: ANLABY PURE NATURAL WOOL THE SHEEP GRAZE AMONGST THE GUM TREES ON THE ROLLING HILLS OF ANLABY. ANLABY SHEEP ARE CHARACTERISTICALLY BIG BODDIED AND BRED TO FLOURISH IN THE WARM AUSTRALIAN CLIMATE. OUR WOOL IS MINIMALLY TREATED AND THE PRODUCTS ARE MADE IN SMALL RUNS UNDER THE PERSONAL SUPERVISION OF THE OWNERS. WE BELIEVE IN SUSTAINABLE AND RESPONSIBLE FARMING AND MILLING PRACTICES. THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL RESULTS IN THE BUTTERY SOFTNESS DISTINCTIVE OF THIS EXCLUSIVE WOOLLEN PRODUCT. WITH CARE THIS IS A TREASURED ITEM FOR THE NEXT GENERATION. ANLABY www.anlaby.com.auwool, merino sheep, south australia, wool processing, wool processing textile finishing

Sixteen page black and white knitting pattern book featuring men’s jumpers and vests. Book contains black and white photographs and printed text. Front cover shows a man wearing a knitted jumper and shorts holding a tennis racquet. front: [printed] Sun-glo / Knitting Book / DESIGN No. / 3845 / PAGE 5 / Series 121 / 7 ½ d [handwritten] H Lambas?fashion, women, magazine, knitting, crochet, home life, patterns

Sixteen page black and white pattern book featuring designs for slippers. Book contains black and white photographs and printed text. Front cover shows two pairs of feet with slippers. front: [printed] 9 D. / BESTWAY / BOOK / No 110 / 10 / DESIGNS / FOR / SLIPPERS / In Knitting, / Crochet, / Felt, etc:fashion, women, knitting, crochet, home life, patterns

Sixteen page black and white pattern book featuring designs for slippers. Book contains black and white photographs and printed text. Front cover shows four pairs of children’s shoes. front: [printed] BESTWAY / BOOK / No 109 / 9 D. / SLIPPERS / for / CHILDREN / Age 2-8 Years / 11 / Designs in / Knitting, / Crochet, / Felt, etc.fashion, women, knitting, crochet, home life, patterns

Twenty page black and white pattern book featuring designs for gloves, stockings and socks. Book contains black and white photographs and printed text. Front cover shows a colour image of a woman seated on the floor wearing a long jacket, stockings and knitted socks, gloves and scarf. front: [printed] Gloves Stockings / and Socks / BY Stitchcraft / 8 D. fashion, women, knitting, crochet, home life, patterns

Eighteen page black and white pattern book with colour front and back cover. Book contains black and white photographs and printed text. Front cover shows a colour image knitted items, a chicken tea cosy, knitted dolls outfit, and two crocheted textile items. front: [printed] FUN TO MAKE AND FUN TO GIVE / CROCHET AND KNITWEAR / Novelties / No 31 / 9 d. / A “NEW IDEA” PRODUCTIONfashion, women, knitting, crochet, home life, patterns

Sixteen page black and white pattern book with designs for hats, bags, gloves and blouses. Book contains black and white photographs and printed text. Front cover shows images of women wearing various knitted items. front: [printed] BOOK 67 / HATS, BAGS, GLOVES and BLOUSES / CROCHET AND KNITTED / Paragon / KNITTING BOOK / PRICE 1’3fashion, women, knitting, crochet, home life, patterns

Sixteen page black and white pattern book containing black and white photographs and printed text. Front cover features blue, black and white graphics showing a man holding a pipe. The back cover shows a man holding a pipe with graphics of skiers in the background.front: [printed] Paragon / KNITTING BOOK / BOOK / 54 / FOR MEN / “Commander” / PRICE / 1/.fashion, women, knitting, crochet, home life, patterns

Four page booklet featuring black and white graphics and text. The front cover features an image of a woman wearing a hat and gloves. [printed] Presented with / English / WOMAN’S / WEEKLY / CROCHET GLOVES / WITH FLOWER GAUNTLETSfashion, women, knitting, crochet, home life, patterns

Four page booklet with black and white text, front cover shows colour images of tableware, with tea cosies and egg cosies. [printed] PRESENTED / with / WOMAN’S / WEEKLY / TEA and EGG COSIES / Double Knitting and 3-ply Wool / DOUBLE KNITTING / 3 / PLYfashion, women, knitting, crochet, home life, patterns

Thirty six page book with black and white text and graphics. Front and back cover feature colour graphics, with the front showing a detail of brown and yellow textile with green text. front: [printed] CRAFTS / IN / WOOL / BY JESSE JENKINS / A WOMAN’S WORLD PRODUCTION / 1’3fashion, women, knitting, crochet, home life, patterns

Twenty page book with black and white printed text and graphics. The front cover features an image of a man wearing a vest and tie, with his arm around a puppy on a basket. front: [printed] Patons / KNITTING BOOK NO. 273 / “GRAMPIANS” – See page 10 / P & B / WOOLS / 8d. [handwritten] I D [?] Chambersfashion, women, knitting, crochet, home life, patterns

Twenty page book with black and white printed text and graphics. The front cover features a black and white image of a child sitting on grass with his arm around a dog. front: [printed] Patons Knitting Book / No. 167 / “KEVIN” / See page 17 / 7d. / A PATONS AND BALDWINS PUBLICATIONfashion, women, knitting, crochet, home life, patterns

Twenty page book with black and white printed text and graphics. The front cover features a colour image of two men wearing knitwear, with an illustrated burnt orange decorative frame. front: [printed] PATONS CLASSICS / Men’s Set-in Jumpers / and Cardigans. / Sizes from 33 to 48. / Patons / BOOK 107 / Totem/Double/Baroness.Jet/Skol. / Bluebell. Patonyle/Easycare. / 45 cfashion, women, knitting, crochet, home life, patterns

Sixteen page book with black and white printed text and graphics. The front cover features seven black and white images of women wearing different hats. front: [printed] Patons / KNITTING BOOK / No. 444 / Ladies’ and Girls’ / Gloves and Hats / No. 444 / Page 3 / Page 12 / Page 6 / Page 4 / Page 2 / Page 5 / Page 7 / 1’3 / P&B / WOOLSfashion, women, knitting, crochet, home life, patterns

W8693.1 Exhibition booklet with printed text and graphics in black, white and cream. The front cover features printed text and a graphic of a man, woman and child. W8693.2 A4 Stapled pages containing black and white text listing the items and artists on display. front: [printed] HANDKNITTERS GUILD INC. PRESENTS / BEDJACKETS / BOOTEES / & BALACLAVAS / EXHIBITION / RE-INTERPRETING THE HANDKNITTING OF THE / 1930s / 1940sfashion, women, knitting, crochet, home life, patterns

Thirty four page booklet with black and white text and graphics. Front cover shows a colour image on a woman ironing. front: [printed] A / complete / guide to / more efficient, / easier / ironing / BY / Sunbeamwomen, home life, ironing, domestic, products, sunbeam

Articles in annual report include: President's report, objectives, finance report, accounts, hospital homes, community centre, accommodation, future programme, welfare, auxiliaries, life governors, public appeal, the death of Granny Carson aged 104, the successful introduction of a Homemakers Club and Creche at the Blind Community Centre, as well as Braille teachers from the Braille Writing Association, and that financial assistance for a two storey wing to be added to the Brighton Hospital Home.1 volume of text with illustrations and photographsassociation for the blind, sir rohan delacombe, h.m. lightfoot, p. fretton, annual reports

Articles in annual report include: branch committees, President's report, finance report, balance sheet, hospital homes, community centre, welfare, volunteer service group, auxiliaries, life governors, guiding light appeal, Isadore Smith's bravery, Prime Minister Hon. J.G. Gorton opening the Ballarat section of the Guiding Light Appeal, Victorian Governor General Sir Rohan Delacombe the Bendigo section and Victorian Premier Sir Henry Bolte the Metropolitan section, Hubert Opperman being knighted in the Queen's Birthday honours, waiting list time for admission is 18 months - two years and are almost exclusively nursing cases as the peak for active aged recedes, erection of the two storey wing at Brighton thanks to grant from estate of the late Herbert Engelbert, the demolishing of the 100 year house at Brighton required for the extension, Mrs Laura Clarke - a resident of Mirridong - celebrated turning 102, and the need for additional room and accommodation for a resident caretaker has necessitated the purchase of a block of flats facing Glenferrie Road, with the assistance of the William Buckland Trust.16 pages of text and photographsassociation for the blind, isadore smith, e.a. soderstrom, miss tobias, annual reports

Articles in annual report include: branch committees, President's report, finance report, balance sheet, hospital homes, blind citizens' community centre, welfare, auxiliaries, volunteer service group, life governors, opening of the new hospital wing at Brighton by Premier Sir Henry Bolte, Mrs Laura Clarke celebrating her 103rd birthday, closure of the Hostel at Brighton due to lack of applicants able to care for themselves, continued demand for hospital care, expansion of 20 hospital beds planned for Mirridong and increase of Welfare staff with two appointed in Geelong and Latrobe Valley.16 pages of text and photographsassociation for the blind, dorothy hamilton, h.m. lightfoot, elanora home (brighton), laura clarke, w.h. coakley, k.f. hosken, mrs j.e. howard, mrs h.s. nunn, mrs j. harrington, mrs h. lindhe, mrs i jennings, john wilson, mrs c.v. moore, mrs h.a. shannon, s.o. rogers, r.a. pearson, annual reports, katharine (kitty) rose

Articles in annual report include: branch committees, President's report, finance report, balance sheet, hospital homes, blind citizens community centre, welfare, auxiliaries, senior staff, life governors, historical and current photographs of Ballarat, Bendigo, Brighton and the Blind Citizens Community centre, establishment of an ophthalmological clinic at Elanora, demand for more nursing beds and funding for nursing support, need for hostel accommodation for short stay or respite for carers, renaming of Brighton Blind Home to Elanora, 20 bed nursing wing to be opened at Mirridong next year, a second block of flats facing Glenferrie Road has been purchased due to demand for expansion at Kooyong Blind Citizens Community Centre, plan for a memorial garden with a sensory section in front of the club house, appointment of a hairdresser at Kooyong and two holidays at Cumberland House in Lorne have been organised and were a huge success1 volume of text and photographsassociation for the blind, elanora home (brighton), mirridong home (bendigo), kelaston home (ballarat), annual reports

Articles in annual report include: branch committees, President's report, finance report, balance sheet, auxiliaries, volunteer service groups, in answer to your questions, senior staff, life governors, building of Katharine Rose wing at Bendigo, donation by G.W. Vowell of a 20 acre farm at Mt Eliza, new auxiliaries formed at Brighton, Kooyong, Bendigo and Mt Eliza with Guiding Light Group comprised of solely men, thanks to Flora Douglas for use of her home at Frankston and Audrey Moffat accepting responsibility for volunteer recruitment, and John Watson, a resident of Elanora, turned 100. 1 volume of text, photographs and illustrationsassociation for the blind, john watson, sir rohan delacombe, h.m. lightfoot, mirridong home (bendigo), kelaston home (ballarat), elanora home (brighton), annual reports

Articles in annual report include: branch committees, President's report, finance report, balance sheet, welfare, hospital homes, day centres, auxiliaries, volunteer service group, senior staff, life governors, formal establishment of the Low Vision Clinic which had been begun with discussions with Professor Gerard Crook in 1970 and supported for a year by the Hecht Trust, John Wilson accompanied Hugh Jeffrey, Australia's delegate on the Executive Committee for the Welfare of the Blind and IFB, businessman John Wicking joined the committee, plans for the future development of the George Vowell Centre are being formulated, Derek Nimmo entertained at multiple Auxiliary functions, the Toorak Auxiliary closed but two new ones at Kyneton and Narcoonah (Hampton), were formed, introduction of training course for volunteer workers and Mrs H.M. Lightfoot, who organised drivers for home visitor Elsie Henderson, has stepped down after fourteen years of service.1 volume of text and photographsassociation for the blind, h.m. lightfoot, john wilson, hugh jeffrey, derek nimmo, iris barnier, annual reports

Articles in annual report include: President's report, finance report, auditor's report, balance sheet, nursing homes, social work, rehabilitation, low vision clinic, honorary services, auxiliary income, blind members, sport and recreation, life governors. There are reports on the Olympics for the Disabled and the opening of the George Vowell Centre.1 printed volume with illustrationsassociation for the blind, corporation records

Articles in annual report include: President's report, finance report, balance sheet, auditors' report, nursing home, social work, rehabilitation, low vision clinic, honorary services, sport and recreation, blind members, life governors.1 printed volume with illustrationsassociation for the blind, corporation records

Articles in annual report include: President's report, finance report, balance sheet, auditors report, nursing homes, social work, rehabilitation, low vision clinic, volunteers - our most valuable human resource, auxiliary income, sport and recreation, blind members, life governors.1 printed volume with illustrationsassociation for the blind, corporation records

Articles in annual report include: President's report, finance report, balance sheet, auditors report, nursing homes, day centres, rehabiliation, low vision services, honorary workers, auxiliary income, service highlights, blind members, life governors 1982/83. 1 printed volume with illustrationsassociation for the blind, corporation records