Down a long red road five hours north-west of Alice Springs the artists of Yuendumu and Nyrippi communities share stories of their country through bold brush strokes and joyful colour.
Through this collaboration with NORTH, senior artists from Warlukurlangu Art Centre along with their families, invite you to celebrate Warlpiri culture with the launch of this fashion collection.
NORTH is a Not For Profit social enterprise existing to celebrate, support and broaden the exposure of textile design by Indigenous artists living remotely on their country.
Having launched five previous collections in collaboration with remote Aboriginal Art Centres, The Warlu Collection is NORTH’s first fashion collaboration with central desert artists.
Here is a joyful collection of statement pieces - uniquely connected to the desert through it’s people, art and stories.
Murdie Nampijinpa Morris, Hilda Nakamarra Rojers, Walter Jangala Brown, Theo (Faye) Nangala Hunson & Shanna Napanangka Williams are senior Warlpiri artists, living & working proudly on their country.
The family of respected elders who have since passed, Valerie Napurrurla Morris and Liddy Napanangka, proudly share the work of their ancestors.
Each artwork featured in this collection is of one of the artist's Jukurrpa - often called a Dreaming Story.
Here: where we are!
This fashion collection has been the collaborative work of many talented hands and generous hearts. Working in a non-for-profit and collaborative capacity allows NORTH to realise our values and work with heart.
At this stage in our growth as an enterprise, we are unable to fully fund the manufacturing stage of this collection, making a pre-order process the perfect solution to ensure we remain financially responsible and our artists get the best deal.
The launch of the Warlu Collection will support NORTH’s growth and development as a social organisation. Success of this collection will mean three things:
- A new income stream for our artists & their families is created through licensing of each garment - the art centre & artists benefit directly from every garment sold.
- Community pride is strengthened as Warlpiri designs make their way around the world, are strutted on catwalks, captured in photographs and worn with pride.
- NORTH as an enterprise will be financially supported to develop future collaborations that support and broaden the exposure of remote Indigenous textile design.
This is where you come in!
Made with heart
Artwork featured throughout this collection is deeply connected to Walpiri country through story.
Out of respect to country, this collection has been developed with ethical manufacturing practices. Each garment has been sewn in Melbourne and digitally printed on soft fabrics made of natural fibre blends.
Artists and the families of artists-past will be paid for each garment that features their work - supporting empowered remote employment and self determination.
The Artists
Warlukurlangu Aboriginal Corporation
Warlukurlangu is one of the longest running and most successful Aboriginal-owned art centres in Australia. Warlukurlangu means ‘belonging to fire’ in the local language, Warlpiri, and is named after a Fire Dreaming site west of Yuendumu.
Warlu operates in Yuendumu community & the close by outstation of Nyrripi. The two communities are closely linked through families - as such, members of either communities are welcome to come and paint at the art centre.
Since the 1960s, art centres have played a pivotal role in the production of Indigenous art; painters, weavers and craftspeople gather to create works inspired and informed by the landscape, traditional knowledge and beliefs.
As community hubs – places to gather, socialise and work – Art Centres are often key to remote communities’ everyday functioning. In addition, serving as gatekeepers between buyers and artists, the centres ensure fair treatment and pay for their artists.
Pre-orders of artwork can be expected within 3 weeks
Pre-orders of fashion can be expected within 2-3 months
