Bronwyn Bancroft is currently one of the most important urban Aboriginal designers. She exhibits work as an artist, designs textiles and fashion clothing, posters and other graphic work for a range of Aboriginal and human rights issues, Aboriginal arts and community programmes. She is influential in her own as well as the wider Australian community through her activities as a member of a number of Aboriginal cultural organisations and mainstream arts organisations. Her work is significant in that it demonstrates a contemporary personal view of traditional themes and reflects Bancrofts own exploration of her Aboriginality. The 'Aboriginal paisley' design was a satirical comment on the long history of the European paisley, itself drawn from the Indian boteh.

This collection was made by Bronwyn Bancroft for a fashion parade of work by Aboriginal designers held in Paris in 1987.

These outfits were featured in a fashion parade at Au Printemps department store in Paris in 1987. The parade grew out of a programme devised by Lilly Madden, nutrition co-ordinator at Redfern Aboriginal Medical Service. She had been running health, beauty and modelling classes to train and increase self esteem among young Koories and decided to stage regular fashion parades to display the talents of young Aboriginal models and designers. One of these parades was documented by a freelance journalist and photographer and appeared in the Paris daily, Le Monde. The article created such interest that they were invited by parade garments at the Au Printemps department store in Paris. Supported by the Aboriginal Medical Service a group of ten models displayed the work of three Aboriginal designers, Bronwyn Bancroft, Mini Heath and Euphemia Bostock.

Outfit, 'Land Rights', polyester, Bronwyn Bancroft/Designer Aboriginals, Sydney, 1987.
Womens outfit comprising a cropped jacket and a bubble skirt.
Jacket: the jacket is made of yellow polyester printed with 'Aboriginal paisley' in metallic gold paint, it has long sleeves and a round neckline, small shoulder pads covered with the same fabric.
Skirt: the skirt is knee length with alternating black and red pleats open the length of the skirt to reveal yellow inserts. All are printed with same design as the jacket. Skirt is lined with black tulle and has elastic around the hem, centre back zipper fastening with yellow plastic button at waist band.

Designed: Bancroft, Bronwyn; Sydney

Made: Bancroft, Bronwyn; Sydney; 1987

Made: Designer Aboriginals; Sydney; 1987


Used: Au Printemps; Paris, France

On the jacket are white fabric labels: Designer Aboriginals. Care Instructions (with care information).

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