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Article: Mainie: The world's oldest art brought to life on luxurious pure silk

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ethical, Australian Aboriginal art design, traditional Warlpiri artists, silk scarf, sustainable fashion, empowering Indigenous women, preserving culture
aboriginal art

Mainie: The world's oldest art brought to life on luxurious pure silk

The Mainie silk scarf collection features authentic Aboriginal art designs 

Each exquisite wearable art piece in the Mainie silk scarf collection is a unique melding of two ancient artisan cultures - Australia's 60,000-year-old Aboriginal arts heritage and the time-honoured silk making techniques that originated in the fabulous Imperial cities of the Silk Road nearly 5,000 years ago.

ethical, Australian Aboriginal art design, traditional Warlpiri artists, silk scarf, sustainable fashion, empowering Indigenous women, preserving culture

"Desert Rain Dreaming" silk scarf features an authentic Aboriginal art design by highly esteemed Warlpiri artist, Bessie Nakamarra Sims.

Silk has long been treasured by lovers of fine things for its rich and luxurious qualities.

Sensuously soft and beautifully finished with hand rolled hems, Mainie's silk scarves exemplify timeless elegance and effortless fashion styling. Each piece is destined to become a beloved heirloom that will be cherished forever.

ethical, Australian Aboriginal art design, traditional Warlpiri artists, silk scarf, sustainable fashion, empowering Indigenous women, preserving culture

From left: Desert Country Dreaming, Desert Rain Dreaming, Medicine Tree Dreaming, Storm Cloud Dreaming

Every Mainie silk scarf brings to life a stunning hand painted artwork design by a traditional Warlpiri woman artist from the remote Tanami Desert region of Central Australia.

The original paintings behind the designs were all ethically purchased and licensed through the world acclaimed Warlukurlangu arts centre.

Aboriginal owned and controlled, Warlukurlangu is located on the ancestral homelands of the Warlpiri Aboriginal people. It has long been an important stronghold for the preservation of the traditional Warlpiri culture and language.

Under the terms of the art licensing agreements with the Warlukurlangu artists, the Aboriginal artists retain the copyright to their original designs and receive royalty payments from Mainie.

ethical, Australian Aboriginal art design, traditional Warlpiri artists, silk scarf, sustainable fashion, empowering Indigenous women, preserving cultureArtists clockwise: Bessie Nakamarra Sims, Rosina Napurrurla White, Christine Nakamarra Curtis, Geraldine Napangardi Granites.

Every Mainie scarf gives back to the Aboriginal woman artist who created the original design, to elevate and empower her, her family and her community.

Proudly Australian owned and operated, Mainie is a Supply Nation verified Indigenous owned business and an Indigenous Art Code approved dealer member.

More information about our Mainie Silk Scarf Collection and the Warlpiri Aboriginal women artists is available at: https://www.mainie.com.au/collections/silk-scarves

ethical aboriginal art, indigenous owned business, empowering aboriginal women

Written by Charmaine Saunders

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aboriginal art ethical australian luxury fashion merino wool scarf indigenous women artists
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OUR PLEDGE

Preserving our natural environment for a healthier planet

Founded by Gunggari Aboriginal woman Charmaine Saunders in 2012, Mainie is a Supply Nation certified Indigenous Australian-owned company and an Indigenous Art Code approved dealer member. We recognise the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work, and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

We acknowledge the sorrow of the Stolen Generations and the impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We respect the resilience, strength and pride of Australia’s First Nations people and their communities. Mainie is committed to supporting Aboriginal women artists to earn an independent income from their own work and to keep alive their traditional cultural heritage for future generations.