An exhibition developed by the Bendigo Art Gallery is set to make its international debut in France during Paris Fashion Week.
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The Piinpi: Contemporary Australian Indigenous Fashion exhibition features Australia's first ever survey of Australia's leading First Nations art fashion and design creatives and will go on display at the Australian Embassy in Paris from January 28 until April.
It is the first time a Bendigo Art Gallery exhibition has toured internationally after being launched in September, 2020.
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Bendigo Art Gallery director Jessica Bridgfoot said it was exciting to see something produced in Bendigo take to the international stage.
"It has incredible First Nations content," she said. "One of the major things (we are proud of) is how wonderful it is for Indigenous designers and artists to have their work shown during Paris Fashion Week. We can't wait to see what other doors it opens.
"Rodney Carter, Dja Dja Wurrung elder and group CEO, has his possum skin cloak in the exhibition and is planning on travelling with me to the opening in January (COVID permitting)."
Ms Bridgfoot said the team behind the exhibition had high hopes. Following its Bendigo showing, it featured at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.
"It is something incredible and unique to Australia and unlike anything anyone has ever seen," she said. "So we did have faith it would be amazing but I don't think we anticipated the immense appetite there is for Indigenous design and fashion.
"We did have aspirations for it to tour, we knew we had developed something new and exciting but straight of the bat it went to the National Museum, we couldn't have predicted that level of demand.
"It is down to that duality of contemporary and innovative work that is also really deeply rooted in heritage and culture. Those garments have something to say and are a really rich experience."
Piinpi features work from more than 50 Indigenous artists and designers.
"There has never been a big survey Indigenous Australian fashion before," Ms Bridgfoot said. "The thing about Piinpi is it is a uniquer offering and something that tells a unique story of our cultural heritage."
Ms Bridgfoot hopes the Piinpi collection can continue its overseas tour beyond Paris.
"The exhibition will go on after Paris but we are still confirming those venues. We have been approaching organisations we partner with," she said. "This exhibition came about through our relationship with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade who offered space at the embassy during Paris Fashion Week."
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