Scarf in 'Fairfield' print
Date2019
Object number00055477
NameScarf
Mediumsilk
DimensionsOverall: 977 × 992 mm
ClassificationsClothing and personal items
Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection
DescriptionSillk scarf from the Social Outfit featuring a sea life - themed 'Fairfield' digital print as part of their 2019 Kinetic Bloom collection.
The Social Outfit's Kinetic Bloom collection was created in collaboration with 12 newly arrived teenage refugees and migrants at the Fairfield High School Intensive English Centre in western Sydney.
The collaboration involved 12 teenagers (Aakad, Afshan, Aoreana, Anibal, Anna, Christian, Katrina, Laver, Maryam, Rahaf, Sam and Valentina) participating in 10 art workshops over a six-week period. The students created artworks in painting, drawing, weaving and collage, reflecting the creative worlds in which they live in western Sydney. Their artworks were then digitised into the sea life-themed ‘Fairfield’ print featuring fish, jellyfish and squid among a vivid backdrop of foliage and blossoms.HistoryBased in Newtown, the Social Outfit is an independently-accredited, ethical trading social enterprise that provides training, work experience and employment in the fashion industry for people from newly-arrived refugee and migrant communities in Sydney. They particularly support women and young people to learn skills in clothing production, retail, design and marketing, giving them a sense of belonging and purpose, and helping them to settle in Sydney and discover employment pathways.
The Social Outfit is accredited by Ethical Clothing Australia and makes products that showcase the talents of multicultural Australia and financially empower refugees and migrants, while also providing customers with unique pieces that tell powerful human stories. All products are sewn on site in their Newtown studio by women from Burma, Afghanistan, Iran and Syria – for many it is their first job in Australia.
Each year, the Social Outfit runs a Digital Print Project to engage young people from new refugee and migrant communities in western Sydney. For 2019, they partnered with Fairfield High School Intensive English Centre to create the Kinetic Bloom collection of silk tops, dresses and scarves.
The collaboration involved 12 teenagers (Aakad, Afshan, Aoreana, Anibal, Anna, Christian, Katrina, Laver, Maryam, Rahaf, Sam and Valentina) participating in 10 art workshops over a six-week period. The students created artworks in painting, drawing, weaving and collage, reflecting the creative worlds in which they live in western Sydney. Their artworks were then digitised into the sealife-themed ‘Fairfield’ print featuring fish, jellyfish and squid among a vivid backdrop of foliage and blossoms.
SignificanceTextiles are an evocative symbol of migration and cultural identity. This scarf from ethical fashion brand the Social Outfit showcases the diversity and talents of multicultural Australia through a unique wearable piece that tells powerful human stories about new arrivals who have made Sydney their home. The sealife-themed 'Fairfield' print was designed in collaboration with newly-arrived refugees and migrants in western Sydney, and the garments were sewn by women from Burma, Afghanistan, Iran and Syria.
19th century