Lenore Dembski is a talented designer who has been designing clothing for more than 20 years. Her present role as ATSIC Staff Training Manager in Darwin gives her the expertise and motivation to work towards involving Indigenous textile designers in small business. Lenore set up her retail business in 1997, 'Paperbark Woman'. In recent Northern Territory Fashion Awards, 'Paperbark Woman' won 12 out of 40 awards.

Lenore Dembski is a talented designer who has been designing clothing for twenty years. Her present role as ATSIC Staff Training Manager in Darwin gives her the expertise and motivation to work towards involving Indigenous and non-Indigenous textile designers in small business. Lenore set up her retail business in 1997 when her husband fell ill but now she is employed by ATSIC. While in her present job, her sister takes care of the business, 'Paperbark Woman', for her. In the recent Northern Territory Fashion Awards, 'Paperbark Woman' won twelve out of forty fashion awards.

Lenore's business makes use of contemporary marketing techniques - Lenore aims to sell her products overseas with the help of a promotional CD. She sees great market potential for the beautiful prints that are produced by designers in the Northern Territory. The textile designs she uses reflect the close cultural ties with the land. In her promotional material she acknowledges each textile designer.

Indigenous fashion designers are not encouraged to display at Sydney and Melbourne Fashion Weeks - the organisers of these events are more focussed on a European look and make participation very expensive for small companies. Lenore exhibited silk scarves and fabric in the 1997 Sydney Fashion Week. Though the local market is very slow, a distinct Australian look is often sought by people travelling from overseas and Lenore is attempting to capture this market with the contemporary styling and distinct and beautiful silks of her glamorous evening wear. The prints draw on the natural environment for inspiration. The prints and the styling combine to create a unique and glamorous look, in contrast to the work of other Indigenous designers who have been more focussed on sportswear and casual cottons.

Lenore Dembski and Hermy Munnich who designed the fabric.

Not previously worn

Evening dress, 'Diamond Croc', printed silk, Lenore Dembski/ Hermy Munnich, Northern Territory, Australia, 1999

Form-fitting full length evening dress in hand dyed and printed silk with fine shoulder straps and diamantee trim on diamond shaped voided side seams. The fabric is printed with a background of gradated shades of brown to orange and yellow. Overlaying this, are printed crocodiles in brown, starfish in yellow and human figures in black.

Designer: Dembski, Lenore; Northern Territory

Designer: Munnich, Hermy; Northern Territory

Maker: Dembski, Lenore; Northern Territory; 1999

Maker: Munnich, Hermy; Northern Territory; 1999

To be checked when removed from display

2000/53/1

1435 mm

350 mm