About Me

G’day, I’m Dr Sal Edwards (they/them).

I am an early career researcher, fashion designer, maker, and teacher currently based in Meanjin/Brisbane. I identify as a queer, non-binary person who loves to examine and analyse structures of power and western societal norms so I can find ways to disrupt and challenge them through fashion practice.

In March 2021, I graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy from Queensland University of Technology. My PhD thesis Towards a Queer Design Practice for Menswear: Disrupting Historical Gender(ed) Narratives was a recipient of the Executive Dean’s Commendation for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award for the faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice.

My PhD research was undertaken in the area of fashion studies with strong intersections with cultural studies, critical theory, gender studies, and queer theory. My PhD research examined historical notions of gender (and more specifically masculinity) in the west through the lens of dress in order to deconstruct distinct historical gendered narratives of the past, and examine how they have been perpetuated through dress, fashion, and the body within a Euro modern context. 

My research also draws on the emergent field of queer methods and methodologies. Queer methods based in sociology to propose intersectional hybrid methodologies to address those who are traditionally or accidentally excluded from the studies of human behaviour. The project analysed the ways in which creative practitioners challenged norms of gender, sexuality, class, and race through methods of creative practice. The framework was then utilised in my creative practice to test and propose the idea of queer methods in design.

My research outputs have been focused on non-traditional research outputs and creative practice. The creative practice component and exhibition of my work have visibly built a community around practice, giving those who would traditionally feel alienated by academic texts a chance to enter into and experience the world-building of practice-led research and understand the ways in which the visual and tactile creative work can impactfully express complex ideas and intersecting identities. The impact of these has created a meaningful engagement with the local creative community as the work creates a bridge between creative practice and theory.

Over the past six years, I have been teaching and developing curriculum across design, history, theory, and practical skills-based and design thinking units at universities such as Queensland University of Technology, Collarts, JMC Academy and the International College of Management. A highlight of my teaching career was to be appointed as the first program coordinator and subject developer for Australia’s first Fashion & Sustainability course at Collarts in 2020. I have since been working as a freelance educator and consultant, developing TEQSA certified units, short courses and public programs workshops.