Serious work often requires a seriously fun approach to keep people engaged. So when Ken Done turned 70 on June 29 last year, I committed to wearing a different Ken Done outfit every day for the next 365 days as a fresh and fun way to raise money for a great new charity that needs support.

So far, I’ve raised more than $5500 for The Social Studio in Melbourne, an enterprise that brings young refugees together and helps them overcome the difficulties they often face when they first come to Australia. The money has been raised through donations and from the proceeds of donated Ken Done items I sell on eBay once they’ve been worn.

So many people can remember Done’s designs from the 1980s. All that colour! Almost all of what I usually wear comes from op shops – it’s amazing what you can find once you start looking – and over the years I’ve come across quite a few Ken Done pieces. When I started What Ken Be Done? I only had about 40 pieces of Ken Done fashion. Given that I needed 365 outfits, it really shows just how people have gotten behind this.

Ken Done and his wife, Judy, donated about 25 pieces; his cousin Christine got in touch and donated items; friends gave me their old Ken Done clothes; and people I’ve never met before donated or loaned me things – some people just don’t want to get rid of their Ken Done, and I understand that. I grew up in the 1980s and had a Ken Done Down Under jumper. I loved it!

When Ken Done first heard about my project, I think he wondered what on earth I was doing. He’s a really lovely man, and is quite a philanthropist in his own right. I think his wish to make art accessible for everyone is inspiring.

I’m 33 now and work four days a week as a social worker. I really believe in The Social Studio – it combines my passions to build skills and training opportunities in an entrepreneurial way with young people from refugee backgrounds.

When refugees arrive here, they often face isolation, unemployment and difficulties accessing education and training. The Social Studio addresses all these issues by creating jobs, providing training and by encouraging community engagement and social inclusion.

It’s a safe place of belonging. As soon as the door opens mid-morning, it’s buzzing. There are people coming in and out, great music is playing, people drop in to buy clothing or a coffee or to say hello – it’s turned into a bit of a community hub. The Social Studio employs young refugees, mostly from Afghanistan and Africa, to make and dye unique clothing and accessories.

What I think is great about The Social Studio is that you can participate and produce at the same time as being connected to a community. There is a sense of ‘we value you’, ‘we need you’ and ‘here’s how you can be involved’. Feeling as though you belong and are connected is what keeps people healthy and well. Humans do best when we feel like we’ve participated and we’re useful.

Refugees who come to Australia have often come from very difficult situations and as children have seen appalling things. A number of them already have sewing and art skills; it’s part of their cultural history. What they get to do at The Social Studio is reconfirm some great things about their country of origin in Australia, a country that mostly celebrates ethnic diversity.

I migrated from South Africa as a child. My parents didn’t want to bring up their children in the country’s apartheid environment. They passed on to me the values of creativity, empathy and the belief that we’re all learning from one another. I don’t come from the position that I’m privileged and therefore I need to help people. Rather, what motivates me is that when you open yourself up to other people’s stories, both of you learn from it. I am so in awe of the number of people who have participated and shown an interest in this project. I feel really lucky. The more people are involved, the more fun we have.

I’m not sick of Ken Done fashion yet. The Social Studio has made a couple of outfits for me out of Ken Done doona covers – those are my favourites. Plus, I’ve still got some vintage gems that I’m going to save right until the end. It’s important for me to make every day of this year special for us all.



See all of Jackie’s outfits and read more about her project at goodfashionforgood.com