Elverina Johnson X Taking Shape
Leading Australian plus size clothing brand Taking Shape is collaborating with celebrated Aboriginal artist Elverina Johnson in a new range due to launch in 2022.
Announcing the collaboration, the team at Australia’s leading plus-size fashion label have described themselves as being “beyond excited” to work with Elverina who works to preserve Aboriginal culture through her art.
A highly respected Gungganji Gurugulu woman from Yarrabah in Far North Queensland, Elverina is one of the Nation’s most recognisable and accomplished artists who was awarded the 2017 Nation NAIDOC Artist of the Year. Her talents span the spectrum of visual and performing arts. Her belief is that Aboriginal art can empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and restore a genuine sense of pride in their culture and communities.
Thrilled to be partnering with Taking Shape, Elverina has said she is looking forward to sharing her First Nation’s history and stories through her beautiful prints, bringing them to a wider audience and educating through fashion.
Elverina shared ‘there are many roads to reconciliation’ and the opportunity to collaborate with Taking Shape allows her to share her story on a national platform.
“I feel honoured to have my art on clothing that women of all shapes will wear. All women should be valued and feel empowered.”
– Elverina Johnson, Artist & Founder, Yarrabah
Talking about her latest collaboration, Elverina said: “I feel extremely proud to be in partnership with Taking Shape. I feel honoured to have my art on clothing that women of all shapes will wear. All women should be valued and feel empowered. All women matter.”
Recently Elverina’s stand out designs were featured in the First Nations Fashion Design Show ‘Walking in Two Worlds’ at the 2021 Brisbane Festival. She was commissioned by a Miss World Contestant 2021, featured on a Melbourne Vixen’s Netball player shoes and she’s even performed with the Wiggles. Her designs have been modelled by Australian Supermodel and 2019 Australian model of the Year Charley Fraser for First Nations Fashion Design.
Both Elverina and Taking Shape take their roles of empowering women seriously. Elverina lives true to her Gungganji name – Bunya Badjil – which means ‘good woman’, the name given to her when she turned 21 by a Gungganji Elder. Taking Shape have been leading the way in creating inclusive and diverse fashion for all women, promoting style confidence and creating a strong, supportive community.
“…we live and breathe female empowerment…”
– Alla Buinowicz, Managing Director, Taking Shape
“At Taking Shape, we live and breathe female empowerment” said Managing Director Alla Buinowicz. “We have always aimed to make every woman feel fabulous no matter her shape, size, background or experience of life. We are thrilled to be working with Elverina on our journey to ever-increasing diversity and inclusion, and our important path to reconciliation with indigenous communities. We are proud to be embracing aboriginal culture in the form of Elverina’s wonderful prints that we are excited to showcase in our products in early 2022. ”
The female story is strong in Elverina’s work and it’s why she is passionate about making her unique prints available on quality curve fashion, up to size 24. Something she believes has been missing in the market.
Her print designs are inspired by her rich culture and connection to country, so you can expect an inspiring story to be behind the designs.
With a shared love of unique prints and bold colours, the ‘Taking Shape x Elverina Johnson’ collaboration will feature on select pieces that will signify the celebration of all women.
This is only the beginning of the partnership between the revered Aboriginal artist and Taking Shape with the plus size clothing label making further announcements in the coming months.
All Images: Elverina Johnson
Follow amazing Elverina Johnson on Instagram at: Yarrabah
For more stories like this, go to : Aboriginal Fashion Label Goes International
