'Black and White Unity' outfit by Jenny Kee
Object No. 99/6/36
Jenny Kee collection of clothing, textiles, artwork and archive, Australia/England/Japan/Africa/USA 1967-1995 Jenny Kee (born Sydney 1947) is one of Australia's most important designers, best known for designing and retailing a unique range of colourful clothing and knitwear. One major theme links all aspects of this collection, Jenny Kee's love of Australia's unique natural environment. Her garments are a canvas for her artwork featuring images of native flora and fauna, the opal gem stone and urban icons like the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. The Jenny Kee collection and archive was acquired by the museum in 1998 and 1999. They document the evolution of her clothing and textile designs, the creative process behind her designs, the development and management of her retail outlets Flamingo Park and Jenny Kee, the significant role she played in environmental activism in Australia and her public profile as a celebrity artist with-in the advertising industry. The collection and archive document her life and work over twenty years and includes clothing and textiles by Jenny Kee as well as Kee's business partner Linda Jackson (b. 1950), original artwork for many of Kee's designs, business records, newspaper and magazine clippings, videos of parades, parade invitations, props and programmes, shop mannequins, shop signs, scrapbooks and posters. The collection and archive not only records Jenny Kee's life and work, but also can be read as a document that charts important cultural changes in Australia. Kee was born in Bondi, to a Cantonese businessman father and Italian/British mother. An early newspaper clipping shows her modelling as the face of Canadian Airlines. In the 1960s, she, like many other young Australians, spent several years enjoying the creative atmosphere of 'Swinging London'. She returned to Australia in the early 1970s and attracted by the encouraging cultural climate of the new Whitlam led Labor government, decided to stay. Kee then opened her Flamingo Park' 'frock salon' in the Strand Arcade in Sydney selling her own designs as well as the work of other innovative designers like Linda Jackson, Peter Tully (1947-1992) and David McDiarmid (1952-1995). Many of the pieces sold through the shop are included in the collection as well as signage, programmes and videos of the lively parades she and Linda Jackson produced. The collection preserves a unique record of this important designer's personal and professional career from the 1960s through to 1995.
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Summary
Object Statement
Outfit, 'Black and White Unity', womens / mens, consisting of dress, skirt, belt, scarf, shoes (pair), fan and dancing skirt, silk / leather / fibre / feathers, Jenny Kee / Rainbow Fabrics / Comme des Garcons, Australia / Italy / Japan, 1986-2015
Physical Description
Outfit comprising loose fitting shift and full skirt with elasticised waist, matching obi style belt and scarf all in 'Black and White' print on an 'Oz Jacquard' weave. Dress: loose fitting, sleeveless shift made of silk damask. the dress has a high straight neckline and long vents in side seams at the hem. The fabric is printed in cream and black in abstract motifs including Buddha head, ying yang symbol, figures, mythological beings and animals. The dress is machine sewn and unlined. Skirt: calf length, full skirt of the same fabric. It has vents in the side seams at the hem and two slash pockets at the side seams at hip level. The skirt gathers onto an elasticised waist and it is machine sewn and unlined. Belt: long rectangular obi style belt of the same silk with stiffening in the centre part. It is machine sewn and unlined. Scarf: long rectangular scarf with sloped ends made of the same silk fabric. It is machine sewn and self lined. Shoes: pair of slip on flat shoes made of black leather. The uppers of black leather have a short tab at the counter and a very square toe with is angled towards the outer edge. Beige leather soles with a very short heel and black leatherette innersoles. Fan: large semi-circular hand fan made of emu feathers of variagated colour, cream to brown to dark brown. The feathers are bundled together and fastened into a shaped blob of resin that has been painted brown with small dots in black and cream and forms a handle. Threaded through the resin are two short loops of rust coloured cord. Dancing skirt: mens dancing skirt made up of a loosely woven waistband of thick, coarse natural fibre thread. Attached to the band are lengths of black thread bunched together with blobs of resin which are decorated with bunches of white, brown and black feathers. The waistband fastens with coarse thread ties.
PRODUCTION
Notes
Print designed by Jenny Kee, inspired by her interest in Buddhism. Printed over a subtle Oz Jacquard weave featuring Australian motifs. The fabric was printed in Italy at Rainbow Fabrics and the outfit was made by Jenny Kee in Australia. The shoes were made by Comme des Garcons in Japan. This outfit was made in 1986-2015.
HISTORY
Notes
Worn by Jenny Kee.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Purchased 1999
Acquisition Date
3 February 1999
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