• High waisted
• Zip and button on side
• Cuffed at hem
• Upper/mid thigh length
• Yellow print on black linen/cotton
• Fabric hand screen printed in Wadeye, NT
• Shorts made in Sydney

Artist and art centre

Leonie was a Wangka woman from Wadeye, one of Australia’s largest Aboriginal communities, located about 420km South West of Darwin. She passed away in late 2017. Leonie’s language was Mari Amu. She was mother of five, and aunty and granny to many! Leonie loved painting and drawing, and did art to relax.

In addition to being a talented artist, Leonie worked for many years with young children at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School, and Wadeye pre-school before retiring in 2013.

Leonie’s design is printed by employees of Palngun Wurnangat Aboriginal Corporation– which roughly translates to ‘women working together’ in Murrinhpatha. PWAC is home to a growing number of Indigenous female artists whose contemporary and traditional designs are represented through screen and lino prints, stencil work, sewing, weaving and painting. PWAC was founded in 1990 to provide support and economic opportunities to women and families of the Thamarrurr region.

Art story

Leonie’s design ‘waves’ was created in 2007. The inspiration for the design came from the waves and ripples of the water at the beach. The community of Wadeye is about one hour from the beach on a very bumpy road. You can stand on the beach and look out to the Timor Sea. Locals love to go fishing and swimming at the beach – but you have to look out for crocs!

Size and fit

Neda is 180cm tall – she wears size 8 shorts.

Treat me right

Design is printed on linen with quality inks and then heat-set; designs are colourfast. Each metre of fabric is hand-printed and is unique - fabulous variations often occur! 

Please treat your wearable art with love and care – we recommend cold hand wash, dry in shade, and reverse iron.