As alumni of RMIT, we understand the significance of garment and image research in all aspects of the global fashion industry. RMIT's Fashion Design program is renowned worldwide for producing competent, skilled, and well-informed professionals in all areas of the fashion, design, and culture business. The removal of these archives from direct access to students, teaching staff, and graduates will undeniably impact the quality of ideas and output from current and future fashion students.

The extensive fashion media and magazine archives at the RMIT library on the Brunswick campus have been a vital resource to Fashion students in all disciplines for years. There is an extensive monthly collection of magazines accumulated by the library which spans from the 1950's until today. Titles such as i-D, Collezione, Vogue Italia, Vogue Paris - just to name a few; full catalogues of monthly issues throughout the entire 80s, 90s, 00s. These have served as a rich source of inspiration for countless projects by providing access to historical trends, iconic designs and influential designers' works. As anybody who works in the business of Fashion and garment design understands, references like these are the sheer backbone of contemporary ideas. Especially anything from 15+ years before the present day. It can't be stressed enough that these archives are a serious and invaluable tool to our craft. Much like the internet, students need open and fluid access to this tool.

Approximately 6 months ago, the RMIT Library Management at Brunswick removed all magazine issues pre-dating 2014. That's approximately 60 years worth of archives removed. These were taken off the shelves and placed into storage, out of sight, leaving only the most recent decade immediately accessible to students and teachers. We've been informed that there is on offer the vague possibility of booking time with these older issues in advance, however anyone who understands the process of working with archive content will appreciate the many reasons why this option is unsatisfactory and cannot be considered a realistic prospect for students. 

Library staff has given various rationales for this decision, neglecting to understand the acute importance of these archival resources to the RMIT Fashion program's current level of excellence and international reputation. A recent 10 year archive is useless to designers and creators until it ages, offering a timecapsule of resources to reflect on and use for important reference and inspiration.

At the same time other reputable schools around the world are expanding and investing in the physical resources of their libraries and archives, RMIT Library has made this decision seemingly without a justified understanding of the courses they are teaching and supporting. They have since revealed plans to remove even more books and physical resources to make way for a "digital friendly" set-up to the space (i.e. remove more books to make way for more desks). With even just a rudimentary regard to the context of the Fashion industry within which this Library operates, these decisions just can't be rationalised. The importance of access to these magazine collections can't be stressed enough.

Melbourne is known as Australia's fashion capital with Victoria contributing 40% to Australia’s total textile industry (Victorian Government). Many notable alumni have gone on to secure prestigious positions in Australia, and also global industry capitals like Paris, Milan, NYC and London. This decision made by the Library Management is critical - this not only affects our university but also Melbourne's reputation as a leading city in global fashion education creating accomplished and influential authorities in the industry.

We call upon RMIT University management to reinstate these crucial resources immediately. We believe that preserving access to these archives is essential for maintaining the high standard of education offered by RMIT Fashion Design program. Sign this petition if you agree that our future designers deserve open and constant access to these valuable resources!