Sang Thai

Sang Thai (he/him) is a designer, lecturer, and creative practice researcher based in Naarm (Melbourne) at RMIT University School of Fashion and Textiles. With extensive industry experience in Australia and internationally, his research focuses on masculinities, intersectionality, and inclusive fashion design practices. His creative practice examines the semiotic and agential potential of materials to explore how cultural difference and sexuality intersect in the fashioning of masculinities. 

Sang teaches in the Bachelor of Fashion Design program at RMIT, specializing in Diversity and Inclusion, and leads industry-partnered projects, bridging critical theory and design exploration. He mentors students in preparation for the industry through studio learning, curriculum development, course coordination, WIL (work-integrated learning)/Partner Projects, and International study tours.

Sang coordinates and leads WIL (work-integrated learning) and Partnered Projects courses in the Fashion and Textiles Design discipline through negotiating, developing, and integrating partnered outcomes into the design studio curriculum, including the development and alignment of project briefs to deliver the course and program learning outcomes.
Project partners have included: Disney, ACMI, Melbourne and Olympic Park Trust (MOPT), MERGE: M-Pavillion x Open House Melbourne x Melbourne Music Week, Arnsdorf, Australian Grand Prix Corporation, Yellowglen, Vic Police, Roadshow Films, and Oroton among others.

Sang's practice draws on his extensive industry experience in retail and wholesale fashion product design and development, end to end, from strategy conception to delivery into store. He has experience in design and development across a broad range of product categories, as well as leading and mentoring design and development teams in Head Designer/Senior Designer roles at Brand Collective, and design roles at MARCS (M Webster Holdings) and Paul Frank (Globe International).

Awards:
2023 - F&T Contemporary Industry Practice Industry Award
2021 - Learning and Teaching Award: Contemporary Industry Practice Award (recognizes exemplary industry-based research or teaching practice)
2019 - Learning and Teaching Award: Industry Practice & Partnerships (RMIT School of Fashion and Textiles)
2018 - Learning and Teaching Award: Broken Heel for Broken Hill (RMIT School of Fashion and Textiles)