Textile swatches by Scribbly Graphics
Object No. 2007/110/1
Graphic artist, Adrienne Higgs, designed this series of screen-printed swatches as part of her range of children's clothing and accessories, called 'Scribbly Graphics'. She established the company in 1978, designing printed paper items before turning to fabric printing in the early 1980s. In 1987, Higgs' husband, Norman, joined the business to manage production. His arrival coincided with a decision to concentrate on a range of children's clothing with colourful designs illustrating the antics of Australian animals. For Higgs, the brightly-coloured patterns were central to her philosophy of developing a uniquely Australian range. 'I have always felt sorry about the way children's shops have cringed away from our own Australian animals,' she said, 'and it has been a sort of crusade for me over the years to get them accepted... Scribbly is entirely and unashamedly in favour of our Australian animals.' Made in Australia from Australian cotton and cotton-knits, the garments were designed to be comfortable and hard-wearing, and could be mixed and matched with placement-print t-shirts and plain coloured pieces. Adrienne Higgs operated Scribbly Graphics out of a studio and workrooms in Thirlmere, in the Southern Highlands of NSW. Eager to provide local employment Higgs employed local mothers in her Scribbly Graphics workrooms to assist with printing, production and finishing. In the early days when they all had small children it operated on a co-operative basis with some people working on production and others in the creche minding the children. Higgs ensured the working environment and hours were family friendly, encouraging local women to join the company and enabling them to balance work and family. Scribbly Graphics opened its first store at the Sydney Opera House in 1994, followed by a second store at the Queen Victoria Building in 1996. A third store opened at Sydney International Airport in 1997. Since then, the range has grown to include tea-towels, wrapping paper, writing paper, toys and children's fashion accessories. It has gained particular appeal amongst international tourists as well as a local market wanting colourful children's clothing made in Australia with Australian materials. In 2005, the Australian Embassy in Beijing commissioned Higgs to design and make 3000 Christmas cards for distribution in China. This project confirmed to her that she was recognised and respected as a graphic artist.
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Summary
Object Statement
Swatches (13), screenprinted, cotton / card / metal, designed by Adrienne Higgs / Daniel Higgs, made by Scribbly Graphics, Thirlmere, New South Wales, Australia, 1980-2002
Physical Description
Swatches (13), screen printed cotton, designed by Adrienne Higgs and Daniel Higgs, made by Scribbly Graphics, Thirlmere, New South Wales, Australia, 1980-2002 A collection of 13 screen printed, cotton swatches illustrating Australian animals. The swatches are separated into bundles, held together with white card and staples. The card features hand-written design notes and contact details for Scribbly Graphics.
PRODUCTION
Notes
Adrienne Higgs designed this collection of stationery, textiles and children's clothing between the late 1970s and 2005. Designed in the Scribbly Graphics studio and workrooms in Thirlmere. Some items were screen-printed on a large one-off rotary printer made for Higgs by a Vietnam veteran who had been involved in the printing of material for leaflet drops during the war. By the 1990s however, much of the meterage printing was out sourced to Australian textile printing companies including Petlee, Feral Fabrics, Melba Prints and Lani Durland of Ersatz. Higgs employed a range of local mothers in her Scribbly Graphics workrooms to assist with printing and making. In the early days when they all had small children it operated on a co-operative basis with some people working on production and others in the creche minding the children. Higgs ensured the working environment and hours were family friendly, encouraging local women to join the company and enabling them to balance work and family. Adrienne Higgs designed this collection of stationery, textiles and children's clothing between the late 1970s and 2005. Designed in the Scribbly Graphics studio and workrooms in Thirlmere. Some items were screen-printed on a large one-off rotary printer made for Higgs by a Vietnam veteran who had been involved in the printing of material for leaflet drops during the war. By the 1990s however, much of the meterage printing was out sourced to Australian textile printing companies including Petlee, Feral Fabrics, Melba Prints and Lani Durland of Ersatz. Higgs employed a range of local mothers in her Scribbly Graphics workrooms to assist with printing and making. In the early days when they all had small children it operated on a co-operative basis with some people working on production and others in the creche minding the children. Higgs ensured the working environment and hours were family friendly, encouraging local women to join the company and enabling them to balance work and family. Higgs' son Daniel Higgs also became involved in Scribbly Graphics, assisting with the design of some artwork including the 'Codswallop' and sun design, designing product and running and working in the Scribbly Graphics retail outlets.
HISTORY
Notes
Graphic artist, Adrienne Higgs, donated this collection of children's clothing, shop mannequins, printed stationery, slides and photographs to the Powerhouse Museum in 2007. These items document the history and production of her textile and clothing design company, 'Scribbly Graphics', established in 1978 in Thirlmere in the Southern Highlands of NSW. Adrienne Travers was born in Tasmania in 1941, studied Fine Arts and English at Melbourne University from 1959-61, then sculpture and oil painting at RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) from 1959-64. She then travelled overseas and worked with Loudon Sainthill in London as a set and costume designer. In 1964 she married architecture student Norman Higgs and decided to support them through designing and printing cards. She had the design skills but required more information on printing techniques and applied to study screen printing at the School of Printing and Allied Trades in Melbourne. After some initial difficulties she became their first female student. She also studied graphic design at Caulfield Technical College. By the late 1960s Higgs was doing freelance illustration for Clemengers and a range of other firms, stores and designers. The family moved to Sydney in 1970 and Adrienne Higgs continued to freelance while studying graphic design at night and raising three sons. They moved to Camden while Norman Higgs was involved in the construction of Campbelltown Hospital and Adrienne purchased a filbar semi-automatic screen printing machine for paper printing and began designing and printing cards, collapsible dolls houses and wrapping papers. They bought a home on three acres of land at Thirlmere in the Southern Highlands of NSW and Adrienne established Scribbly Graphics in the studio and workrooms Norman designed and constructed on the property. Adrienne moved from printing on paper to creating textile designs for children's clothing. These proved to be extremely successful, filling a need in the market for colourful, well design and made children's clothing featuring distinctive Australian motifs. Higgs work is distinguished by the playful cast of characters she created for her textile designs, based on Australia animals, fish and flora. By the mid 1980s she was wholesaling throughout Australia as well as to outlets overseas and through the 1990s she moved into retailing, opening stores in Darling Harbour, the Opera House, Sydney, The Queen Victoria Building, Sydney and the International Terminal at Sydney Airport. In 2005 Higgs decided to move into other areas of graphic design and sold Scribbly Graphics. Adrienne Higgs was also the illustrator for the highly influential Logo book 'Let's Talk Turtle' by Liddy Nevile and Carolyn Dowling published in 1983.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Gift of Adrienne Higgs, 2007
Acquisition Date
23 August 2007
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