Dr Julie Gork

Dr Julie Gork is a Lecturer in the School of Fashion and Textiles at RMIT University, Australia. She holds a PhD from RMIT University and an MA (Fashion Studies) from Parsons School of Design, New York.

Julie was awarded the School of Fashion and Textiles Research Achievement award in 2025.

RESEARCH

Julie researches fashion and the body, focusing on sensory fashion, disability, and fashion for social justice. Recent work explores how the lived experience of disability develops alternative fashion expertise. Her PhD research explored the sensory knowledge of fashion developed by people with low vision and blindness.

Related research interest areas are the language of fashion, including image and audio description, fashion design for diverse bodies, and applying access aesthetics to fashion contexts, recognising that integrating accessibility into creative practice and process benefits everyone.

Community engagement and research translation activities include workshops and exhibitions.

INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

Prior to a research career, Julie worked for almost 10 years in the fashion industry as a trend forecaster and product developer in Australia and internationally.