This outfit is an important addition to the Powerhouse Museum's collection of Australian fashion. It was created by Peter Morrissey, who has been a successful Sydney designer since 1993. It is important for its Sydney fashion context but also for its Australian symbolism which had an unexpectedly powerful impact when it appeared. The top became much publicised when it's eloquent design was adopted as an icon of the Australian Republican Movement in the lead-up to the referendum on the 7th November 1999. Peter Morrissey says he was not intending to be seriously political when he designed the top, with the consent of Harold Thomas the designer of the Aboriginal flag. He merely felt frustrated that Australians were wearing symbols from other countries, especially the USA, and not those relevant to their own vibrant culture. This makes his work particularly distinguishable from that of international designers such as Versace who have a similar style and with whom he has been compared. The outfit was first presented in May 1999 at Morrissey's parade at Mercedes Australian Fashion Week and was seen in subsequent parades in 1999 and 2000. Peter Morrissey is an important and successful force in Australian fashion with his distinctive sassy styling and powerful marketing strategies. This outfit expresses his distinctive style.

Peter Morrissey is a well known Sydney fashion designer who set up his first business, Morrissey Edmiston in 1993 with fellow design school student Leona Edmiston. He then set up an even more successful business on his own, Morrissey, in 1997, which was bought by the multi national corporation, Oroton, in 2000.

Harold Thomas (b1947) a Luritja man from Central Australia, designed the Aboriginal flag in 1971 and it was first flown in Adelaide's Victoria Square. Morrissey negotiated with Harold to use it on the design for this top.

Janis Puddephatt of Sydney shoe manufacturing company, Dahto, designed the stilleto shoes that match the outfit. The company is run by Mario and John Dato.

This outfit created a stir when it was first worn at Morrissey's parade at Mercedes Australian Fashion Week in May 1999. Due to its popularity it was then used for several Morrissey parades in 1999 and 2000. It was worn by supporters of the Australian Republican Movement on the 7th November 1999, when the referendum was held. Some Indigenous Australians voiced objections to the flag being used in a commercial context such as this.

Outfit, women's, cotton / polyester / leather / glass beads, Peter Morrissey / Harold Thomas / Dahto Shoes, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1999

Top: sleeveless, round-necked cotton/polyester knit top featuring the white stars of the Southern Cross against a dark blue background and the red, yellow and black Australian Aboriginal flag positioned on the right shoulder. It reaches to just below the waist and is machine made.

Skirt: yellow mini-skirt is made from a double layer of polyester crepe with machine-stitched handkerchief hemline. It is decorated with three tiers of gold bead fringing and the waist is finished with yellow satin bias binding. The skirt has a proper left side seam opening that fastens with a yellow nylon zipper and a metal hook and eye.

Shoes: pair of canary yellow shoes have two leather straps across the foot, a 90mm black stiletto heel and are of cement construction.

Designed: Morrissey, Peter;

Made: Dahto Shoes; Sydney; 1999


Used: Morrissey, Peter; Australia; 1999 - 2000

Top: black fabric label inside centre back neck 'MORRISSEY/MADE IN AUSTRALIA/2'. Black fabric label outside proper left side seam 'MORRISSEY'. White fabric label inside proper left side seam 'MADE IN AUST/65% POLYESTER/35% COTTON/COLD HAND WASH/SEPARATELY/DO NOT SOAK,/SPIN, BLEACH/WRING OR TUMBLE/DRY./DO NOT/IRON/,PRINT./DO NOT DRY CLEAN/X'.

Skirt: black fabric label inside centre back waist 'MORRISSEY/MADE IN AUSTRALIA/1'. White fabric label inside proper right side seam 'MADE IN AUST./100% POLYESTER/DRY CLEAN ONLY/(P)/WARM IRON'.

Shoes: impressed on soles 'Dahto Shoes/vero cuoio/MADE IN AUSTRALIA/9 ½'. Impressed on inner soles partially obscured by white paper labels 'MORRISSEY Dahto'.

2003/38/1