Dr Christine Schmidt

Biography

Background
Christine Schmidt was awarded QUT fashion discipline's first doctorate in 2008, and brings to her research two decades of experience as a creative designer in the international fashion industry.
Her PhD traced the evolution of the modern swimsuit, showing how an inventive individual, Annette Kellerman, and a peripheral nation, Australia, influenced the design direction of the swimsuit in the 20th century and beyond to create a distinctly Australian niche in global fashion.
An important research outcome has been realised via a collaboration with the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney as a fashion and concept consultant that has led to a national exhibition, 'Exposed: the story of swimwear'. Christine developed the contemporary sub-theme 'Woollen Mermaids', which showcased the work of contemporary Australian designers including Zimmermann, Seafolly, Jets and Tigerlily.
She has also contributed a chapter, 'Against the Grain: Australia and the Swimsuit', to the first fashion publication for Cambridge University Press, Melbourne (Australian Fashion Unstitched, April 2010). Her current research reconsiders the significant contribution that Australian design has made to the international fashion industry in a niche market (swimwear), and reinforces the links between sport, swimwear design and popular culture.Research interests

• The Swimsuit and the modern body


• Australian fashion in global markets


• Practice-led research and methodology


• Building links between the academic, public and commercial spheres.