Skirt (Silk and Banana Bark ensemble)

This skirt is part of a costume titled "Silk and Banana Bark ensemble" made by Jean Clarkson, a New Zealand-born fabric artist of Tahitian/Scottish descent. She takes inspiration in her work from her heritage on her mother’s side. Her mother was a Norfolk Islander. Jean is also a direct descendant of HMS Bounty mutineer Fletcher Christian and Mauatua, his Tahitian wife. Mauatua made block-printed tapa clothing on Pitcairn Island and Jean has based many of her contemporary designs on these patterns. She also employs the same direct leaf-print technique the Tahitians used in their early tapa.

Construction

‘Silk and Banana Bark Ensemble' has four components; a skirt, a headdress, a woven bodice and a cloak. The skirt is made from light parachute silk that fills with air as the model walks down the runway. The headdress and bodice are made from banana bark. Screen-printed photographic images of the woven bark feature along the edges and down the middle of the back of the cloak, which is adorned with shells, textiles and feathers.

Award winning

This is one of two of Clarkson’s garments modelled at the New Zealand-based Style Pasifika (now Westfield Style Pasifika) fashion show in Auckland in 1996 and 1999, respectively. ‘Prince of Peace’ won the Traditionally Inspired section and the Supreme Award in 1996, and ‘Silk and Banana Bark’ was runner-up in the Evening Wear section in 1999.

Acquisition History

This garment was acquired from Jean Clarkson in 2006.