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Overview
This shearing singlet belonged to David Fagan, New Zealand's most famous shearer of the last generation. David has achieved over 600 career wins, including five times World Champion and 16 times Golden Shears Champion.
The black singlet is a powerful symbol of men's work and sport in New Zealand, and is most closely identified with farming and shearing, regardless of other occupational groups who wear it.
When representing New Zealand, David always wears a black singlet with a silver fern motif. The black singlet is 'pretty special in the shearing fraternity. I get pride in it. There's even more pride in it when you're overseas, particularly in the UK - they just love the black singlet' (David Fagan, 2011). David wore this particular singlet when competing in Wales in 2011.
Shearers have worn black singlets since the early 20th century.The image of rural working men in black singlets has been affectionately mocked/admired in both art and popular culture through such characters as Fred Dagg by John Clarke, Bogor by Burton Silver, and Wal Footrot of the cartoon Footrot Flats by Murray Ball.