Hats and Boots by Tim McNamara and Phyllis Stevens

In Central / Eastern Arrernte it is called Mwekate (hat) and Pute (boots).
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"My mwekate (hat) design is inspired from my childhood, growing up with my brothers and uncles, riding horses out bush, mustering wild horses wearing wide-brimmed hats and sturdy boots. We would do horse races, where I’d fall off many times, but I would just jump straight back on. Our special day was Koprilya which was a day where all of us would dress up as cowboys, and there would be a prize for best dressed. This memory inspired the making of hats and boots which transports me back to when I used to dress up with my brothers and uncles, feeling like a true cowboy." - Tim McNamara

"I grew up seeing my cousins from Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) riding horses and wearing long boots. I would only wear my stepfather’s boots when it was hot, walking to get water. I would complain to him, “It’s too hot dad - can I wear your hat as well?”. Sometimes he would let me. When my dad would return from mustering in the bush, he would give his hat to the little ones who would want to look like him too. He's now in a home and when I visit him he always asks me for his pute (boots) and mwekate (hat)". - Phyllis Stevens
This is a collaborative design by Tim McNamara and Phyllis Stevens”

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