In late November Maggie was visited by Beck Barlow creator of Deadly Denim who is currently travelling around the country with her 2 sons.

Before Ieaving on her trip Beck created a denim label "Deadly Denim " showcasing predominantly Aboriginal artists on upcycled denim jackets and vests .

All profits from the sales are going to Rhodanthe Lipsett Indigenous midwifery fund whom support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander midwives and student midwives .

Rhodanthe Lipsett’s dream is for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to have improved pregnancy and birth outcomes by having the benefit of care from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander midwives.

By establishing Rhodanthe Lipsett Indigenous Midwifery Charitable Fund (“The Fund”) aims to make a contribution to both ‘a better start in life’ and ‘Closing the Gap’ for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers and babies.

Beck is one of the student midwives who has had support from Rhodanthe Lipsett Trust and is excited about the launch of this label to give back and share their dream .

Maggie's jacket design;

Maggie's jacket features fabric from Injalak art centre and the design is called dilly bag.  Gundjabarrk is a woven dilly bag which was used by daluk (women) to gather and carry bush foods in. They would gather Karrbarda (yams), mankinjdjek (cheeky yams) and other bushfoods such as bush honey. Gundjabarrk were also used to carry cooked meats such as kurdukadji (emu) and Kunj (Kangaroo). Women would secure their gundjabarrk with two sticks in the shallow running water of a creek and leave them there to wash the yams overnight, in the morning they would come and tip out the yams onto some paperbark and eat them for breakfast. Bininj (aboriginal men) would also use gundjabarrk to carry their tools such as Karramalk (stone axes) and lawk (stone blades) for cutting meat up with. Some wore them on their shoulders and some around their heads like the daluk. This design was based on real examples of woven dilly bags at Injalak Arts with all their variety of pattern and weaving techniques. The women have created a beautiful design that continues to express their connection with their cultural heritage through new mediums

Maggie would like to encourage the wonderful work that Beck and wish her well on her travels.

To follow Beck and her boys on their travels find them on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/Deadly-Denim-239962300009569/