Thousands of First Nations people converged on Shepparton on Saturday for a music festival headed by some of Australia’s most prominent Indigenous performers.
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Berlei in hot water over cultural appropriation of Indigenous artwork
By Imogen Bailey | 9 April 2021
Lingerie label Berlei has issued a formal statement and apology after one of its Pink Bra Project s winning designs came under fire for cultural appropriation of Aboriginal artwork.
The design which has now been withdrawn from the competition entirely, features Aboriginal symbols and dots and was submitted by non-Indigenous artist Nicole Onslow.
The design was then posted to Berlei s Instagram as one of two winning designs in the Pink Bra Project competition.
The post quickly encountered backlash from commenters, many of whom expressed their shock and disappointment.
Under garment company Berlei has apologised for overlooking Indigenous elements in the design selected for its bra contest, saying it had learned a valuable lesson.
The print was submitted by a non-Aboriginal artist and later scrapped the image, and Berlei said they made a mistake in choosing it.
Yarli Creative director Madison Connors said she wanted to call out this conduct because it has been happening across the arts sector, and often goes unnoticed. One of the bra designs actually had incorporated Aboriginal symbols in it and it was quite subtle as well, she said
Ms Connors said the symbol represented a camp-site and a star, with many users on social media slamming the brand for cultural appropriation.
National Indigenous Times
Popular underwear brand Berlei Australia has been called out for cultural appropriation after selecting artwork by a non-Indigenous artist which featured Aboriginal symbolism.
Berlei ran the Pink Bra Project Design Awards in partnership with Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA). The competition asked Australian artists to submit an artwork which could feature on a lingerie set.
The winners, Nicole Onslow and Chloe Edwards, were announced on Tuesday.
Nicole Onslow, who is believed to be a non-Indigenous artist, has been called out for using Aboriginal symbolism in her design.
Nicole Onslow’s award-winning design which features sacred Aboriginal symbolism. Photo Supplied Berlei Australia.