Australian Story: The Mainie Aboriginal Art Merino Wool Collection
Australian Story: The Mainie Aboriginal Art Merino Wool Collection
Mainie’s Australian Merino Wool Scarf Collection is a careful blend of ethical artisanship and meaningful storytelling.
More than just a beautiful fashion accessory, each scarf is an exquisite wearable art piece melding an ancient Aboriginal Dreaming story and the finest Australian Merino wool.
Authentic Aboriginal Art: A Story in Every Thread
At the heart of Mainie’s Merino wool collection lies a deep respect for Australia’s 65,000-year-old First Nations cultural heritage.
Created by traditional Aboriginal women artists from the remote Tanami Desert region of Central Australia, each design reflects sacred Dreaming stories passed down from one generation to the next over tens of thousands of years.
Desert Journey Dreaming (Mina Mina Jukurrpa) – Mary Napangardi Gallagher
Mainie ensures these artworks are ethically licensed in accordance with the Indigenous Art Code, providing fair compensation and recognition to the artists, while helping to preserve the artistic traditions of the world’s oldest continuous living culture.
Red Earth Dreaming (Yarla Jukurrpa) – Alicka Napanangka Brown
The Legacy of Australian Merino Wool
Australia’s journey with Merino wool began in 1797 with the introduction of Spanish Merino sheep to the first British colony at Sydney.
Over time, through careful breeding and expert farming, Australia has become the global leader in producing high-quality Merino wool - renowned for its unmatched softness, durability and naturally luxurious qualities.
The wool industry also played a defining role in shaping the identity of modern Australia. From building regional towns and infrastructure to driving exports, wool earned its place at the heart of the national economy - giving rise to the phrase, “Australia rides on the sheep’s back.”
Aboriginal Australians made a vital yet often unacknowledged contribution to the development of the wool industry. As shearers, drovers, station hands and domestic workers, they played an essential role in the prosperity of pastoral enterprises - frequently working under harsh conditions, without fair pay or recognition and on lands from which they had been dispossessed.
Despite these injustices, many Aboriginal workers stood up for their rights, participating in strikes and demanding better conditions. Historical records tell of their strong unionist spirit and solidarity, with some white unionists even refusing to work unless Aboriginal shed hands were paid fairly.
The Aboriginal unionists’ loyalty to their fellow workers and determination for justice earned respect within the labour movement and affirmed their place in this pivotal chapter of Australia’s political history.
One of the most significant moments in this story unfolded in Barcaldine, Western Queensland, during the 1891 shearers’ strike. This pivotal moment in workers' rights history saw the birth of the Queensland Labour movement beneath the iconic ghost gum known as the Tree of Knowledge.
On 9 September 1892, the Manifesto of the Queensland Labour Party was read beneath this tree - laying the foundation for what would become the Australian Labor Party. The historic document is now preserved by the State Library of Queensland and has been recognised by UNESCO's Memory of the World program for its global historical significance.
Mainie’s wool collection stands as a tribute to this enduring legacy - honouring Australia’s First Nations people as the direct descendants of the world’s oldest continuous living culture, while also recognising the enormous contributions Aboriginal workers made to the wool industry and its role in shaping the nation's identity.
Each scarf in the Mainie Australian Merino wool collection is a symbol of truth-telling, reconciliation and a shared future woven from the stories of the past.
Rock Pools Dreaming (Yumari Jukurrpa) – Joy Nangala Brown
Woolmark Certification: A Seal of Excellence
Mainie’s scarves are handcrafted from Woolmark-certified Australian Merino wool, a globally recognised guarantee of quality, purity and sustainability. The certification ensures every Mainie scarf meets the highest standards of ethical and environmental responsibility.
Desert Tracks Dreaming (Warna Jukurrpa) – Valma Nakamarra White
Ethical Fashion: Style with a Conscience
Mainie is committed to a fashion future that honours tradition and protects the planet. By uniting authentic Aboriginal art with responsibly sourced natural fibres, Mainie creates pieces that are not only beautiful to wear but also socially and environmentally conscious. Each scarf is a testament to slow fashion - designed with care, created with purpose.
Night Ceremony Dreaming (Ngalyipi Jukurrpa) – Geraldine Napangardi Granites
Embrace a Piece of Australia’s Heritage
Wearing a Mainie Merino wool scarf is more than a style choice - it’s an embrace of Australia’s rich cultural heritage and a celebration of sustainable luxury.
Each piece supports Aboriginal women artists, showcases Australian artistry and brings together two powerful narratives: one ancient and one modern.
Red Bark Trees Dreaming (Ngapa Jukurrpa-Mikanji) – Nicole Napaljarri Stevens
Explore the collection and embrace a story of art, tradition, and meaning:
https://www.mainie.com.au/collections/wool-scarves
Founded in 2012, by Gunggari Aboriginal woman, Charmaine (Mainie) Saunders, Mainie Australia is a Supply Nation Certified Indigenous Owned Business and an Indigenous Art Code Member.
