Seven Sisters Dreaming

Every Mainie wearable art piece is created as a timeless and meaningful celebration of Australia's 60,000-year-old Indigenous cultural heritage. 

Mainie's special edition "Seven Sisters" pure cashmere scarf brings to life an exquisite artwork by highly esteemed Warlpiri artist, Alma Nungarrayi Granites, who painted with the world-renowned Warlukurlangu Artists.

The Warlukurlangu art centre was established in 1985 at Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community, located north west of Alice Springs in the vast Tanami Desert region of Central Australia. Warlukurlangu has long been a stronghold for the preservation of the traditional language and culture of the Warlpiri people.

Original Artwork: Napaljarri-Warnu Jukurrpa

Mainie's "Seven Sisters" design is based on Alma's original painting, Napaljarri-Warnu Jukurrpa, and depicts the ancient Warlpiri Dreaming story of the seven Napaljarri sisters who are found in the night sky in the cluster of seven stars commonly known as the Pleiades. According to Warlpiri legend, the sisters turned themselves into fire and ascended to the heavens and become stars to escape the men who fell in love with them.

Alma Nungarrayi Granites 

Alma Nungarrayi Granites was the daughter of Paddy Japaljarri Sims and Bessie Nakamarra Sims, both highly acclaimed founding artists of the Warlukurlangu art centre.

Alma painted a large array of stories, all of which were passed down to her from her father and his Warlpiri ancestors before him.  

As a child, Alma attended the local school at Yuendumu, and then continued her studies at Kormilda College in Darwin.  Alma completed a Teacher’s assistant diploma and worked at the Yuendumu school for many years.

Alma was married with four children, had many grandchildren, and spent much of her later life helping to take care of them.  

Alma commenced painting in 1987. In 2007, she began to explore her painting technique in more depth, and started working at the Warlukurlangu art centre every day to produce a body of work that exemplified her knowledge of the Dreaming (Jukurrpa), as well as her unique art themes and distinctive artist's style.

Alma was a leading member of the Warlukurlangu Artists, and exhibited in group exhibitions nationally and internationally, eventually culminating in two important solo shows, one in Singapore in 2010, and one in Germany in 2011. Alma also had solo shows each year within Australia.

Alma is widely acknowledged as one of the shining stars of the Aboriginal art movement. 

Alma passed away in August 2017. She is remembered as a prominent and influential artist, whose paintings are exhibited in major art galleries and private collections around the world. 

Mainie is committed to supporting traditional Aboriginal women artists from remote communities in Outback Australia to earn an independent income from their own work; and to keep alive the stories that have been passed down to them through many generations of their ancestors for future generations. 

All Aboriginal artworks featured in the Mainie fashion collection are ethically acquired under licence in accordance with the Indigenous Art Code. Royalties are paid the Aboriginal artists and their families.

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

Learn more about Mainie's ethical and sustainable fashion story at www.mainie.com.au

See Mainie's special edition "Seven Sisters" pure cashmere scarf at www.mainie.com.au/collections/silk-cashmere/products/seven-sisters-cashmere-scarf