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NORTHERN TERRITORY
Style and Spirit
Monday, 16 November, 2009
Mavis Warrngilna Ganambarr learned the traditional art of fibre-weaving from her grandmother in Arnhem Land.
Watch online: Style and Spirit
Her creations now include handbags, brooches and necklaces, and she's merging her traditional skills and designs with the world of fashion, with Melbourne fashion designer Lisa Gorman teaming pieces from her new collection up with Mavis' earthy designs.
"The fact that Mavis' pieces are handmade is definitely something that is appealing more and more to women and think it's special. It gives the piece something for you to talk about, to tell a friend, and that's what many women are looking for", Kerrie McCallum, editor of InStyle Magazine, told Living Black.
Join Living Black as Allan Clarke checks out the results as they make their way along the catwalk.
TRANSCRIPT
You are tuned into ‘Living Black’, coming to you from the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. Last week, Sydney played host to a fashion show with an Indigenous twist. The Style and Spirit fashion parade saw Elcho Island elder Mavis Ganambarr turn traditional craft into wearable art and accessories. Allan Clarke has the story.
VOICEOVER: The champagne is flowing, models are posing and Sydney's glamour set are socialising at the Birrung Aboriginal Gallery on a balmy evening in the city. They have come to see the Style and Spirit fashion show, a parade promising to be different from the usual fashionista frock-fests. The star of the night hails from remote Elcho Island in East Arnhem Land with her recreations of an ancient Aboriginal art form.
MAVIS GANAMBARR, ARTIST: I found to it be weaving when I was about 19, but when I first started learning with my grandmother was when I was little, when I was growing and watching all my grandmother and my grandmother and all my aunties. I grew up in the bush.
VOICEOVER: Well-known for her delicate and intricate weaving skills, Mavis has exhibited nationally. Her stunning pieces, which include baskets and mats, explode into a cross section of earthy tones, all made from the leaves of the pandanus tree. It’s a tradition that dates back thousands of years for the Yolngu women of Elcho island. With the support of World Vision and InStyle magazine, Mavis was given the chance to bring a modern twist to her deeply spiritual handiwork, and showcase it at the Style and Spirit fashion show.
GREG MALLYON, WORLD VISION: Even though the art form itself, of course, of weaving is very traditional, the way she has interpreted it – say with her mobile phone carriers and purses and so forth - has just been a fantastic creative challenge to her.
MAVIS GANAMBARR: This is the first they have to do the fashion parade to do with all my bags and jewellery stuff, so I’m a bit excited to see it.
VOICEOVER: It seems Mavis's work has the potential to spark a mainstream fashion trend for wearable art.
KERRIE MCCALLUM, EDITOR, INSTYLE MAGAZINE: The fact that Mavis's pieces are hand-made is definitely something that is appealing more and more to women, and I think it’s special. It gives the piece something for you talk about, to tell a friend, and I think it gives you something that nobody else has, which is what many women are looking for.
VOICEOVER: While Mavis is excited about her new venture, she is not after fashion adoration. Concerned about traditions in Aboriginal communities across Australia dying out, she is using the show as a platform to raise awareness.
GREG MALLYON: So it’s actually a unique opportunity for Mavis as an artist to be voicing the opinions of her community to the general public.
MAVIS GANAMBARR: It’s important, so part of doing our art is keeping our country strong, so when new generations grow they know what to do. They don't have to go through reading books or asking questions.
VOICEOVER: The models strut their stuff down the catwalk, Mavis's handiwork draped around their necks, swinging her woven handbags and clutching twined mobile phone carriers. Judging by the applause, Mavis has won over this chic Sydney crowd, but amidst glamour, the weaver’s thoughts are elsewhere.
MAVIS GANAMBARR: In my mind I’m always hoping that all kids, the Indigenous kids - I hope and wish for them to learn more and they get an understanding more what this has meant to the Indigenous people.
VOICEOVER: With national exposure and fanfare, hopefully Mavis's spirit and style will capture the attention of Indigenous youth around the nation.
Watch online: Style and Spirit
Her creations now include handbags, brooches and necklaces, and she's merging her traditional skills and designs with the world of fashion, with Melbourne fashion designer Lisa Gorman teaming pieces from her new collection up with Mavis' earthy designs.
"The fact that Mavis' pieces are handmade is definitely something that is appealing more and more to women and think it's special. It gives the piece something for you to talk about, to tell a friend, and that's what many women are looking for", Kerrie McCallum, editor of InStyle Magazine, told Living Black.
Join Living Black as Allan Clarke checks out the results as they make their way along the catwalk.
TRANSCRIPT
You are tuned into ‘Living Black’, coming to you from the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. Last week, Sydney played host to a fashion show with an Indigenous twist. The Style and Spirit fashion parade saw Elcho Island elder Mavis Ganambarr turn traditional craft into wearable art and accessories. Allan Clarke has the story.
VOICEOVER: The champagne is flowing, models are posing and Sydney's glamour set are socialising at the Birrung Aboriginal Gallery on a balmy evening in the city. They have come to see the Style and Spirit fashion show, a parade promising to be different from the usual fashionista frock-fests. The star of the night hails from remote Elcho Island in East Arnhem Land with her recreations of an ancient Aboriginal art form.
MAVIS GANAMBARR, ARTIST: I found to it be weaving when I was about 19, but when I first started learning with my grandmother was when I was little, when I was growing and watching all my grandmother and my grandmother and all my aunties. I grew up in the bush.
VOICEOVER: Well-known for her delicate and intricate weaving skills, Mavis has exhibited nationally. Her stunning pieces, which include baskets and mats, explode into a cross section of earthy tones, all made from the leaves of the pandanus tree. It’s a tradition that dates back thousands of years for the Yolngu women of Elcho island. With the support of World Vision and InStyle magazine, Mavis was given the chance to bring a modern twist to her deeply spiritual handiwork, and showcase it at the Style and Spirit fashion show.
GREG MALLYON, WORLD VISION: Even though the art form itself, of course, of weaving is very traditional, the way she has interpreted it – say with her mobile phone carriers and purses and so forth - has just been a fantastic creative challenge to her.
MAVIS GANAMBARR: This is the first they have to do the fashion parade to do with all my bags and jewellery stuff, so I’m a bit excited to see it.
VOICEOVER: It seems Mavis's work has the potential to spark a mainstream fashion trend for wearable art.
KERRIE MCCALLUM, EDITOR, INSTYLE MAGAZINE: The fact that Mavis's pieces are hand-made is definitely something that is appealing more and more to women, and I think it’s special. It gives the piece something for you talk about, to tell a friend, and I think it gives you something that nobody else has, which is what many women are looking for.
VOICEOVER: While Mavis is excited about her new venture, she is not after fashion adoration. Concerned about traditions in Aboriginal communities across Australia dying out, she is using the show as a platform to raise awareness.
GREG MALLYON: So it’s actually a unique opportunity for Mavis as an artist to be voicing the opinions of her community to the general public.
MAVIS GANAMBARR: It’s important, so part of doing our art is keeping our country strong, so when new generations grow they know what to do. They don't have to go through reading books or asking questions.
VOICEOVER: The models strut their stuff down the catwalk, Mavis's handiwork draped around their necks, swinging her woven handbags and clutching twined mobile phone carriers. Judging by the applause, Mavis has won over this chic Sydney crowd, but amidst glamour, the weaver’s thoughts are elsewhere.
MAVIS GANAMBARR: In my mind I’m always hoping that all kids, the Indigenous kids - I hope and wish for them to learn more and they get an understanding more what this has meant to the Indigenous people.
VOICEOVER: With national exposure and fanfare, hopefully Mavis's spirit and style will capture the attention of Indigenous youth around the nation.
