Bloomin’ Fabulous Runway Series – Part 6

We recently hosted our second instalment of Bloomin’ Fabulous at the Bicentennial Conservatory in Adelaide Botanic Garden. If you missed out on this exploration at the intersection of queer fashion and all things botanical, you’re in luck. We’re revisiting the runway with each instalment including three different makers with their respective artist statement.

Kellie Greene

Magpie Ink Cap Mushroom, headpiece

Following on from last year’s BF creation of a ‘Veiled Lady’, this year we have a deliciously deliquescing pitch-black Magpie Ink Cap.Like other shaggy ink cap mushrooms (Coprinus comatus), the Magpie Ink Cap hides an awesome strength and resilience as it can push its way through asphalt and heavy paving stones. You can fry it and eat it, but you have to be quick before the tender white flesh will deliquesce into a black puddle as dark and as luxurious as crushed black velvet.

Kylie Ellis

Pansies, suit

I was inspired by LGBTQIA+ flowers and focused on incorporating violets, pansies and lavender into my creation. I initially attempted some cyanotype printing which didn’t give the effect that I was after, so I found some amazing fabric which i felt represented the gay community to work with. My next focus was to create something sustainable that I can wear for years to come, and I feel this trouser suit fits my personality.

Greg Kelly

Weeds outfit

What is a weed other than a plant in a place we don’t want it to be? More broadly it could include invasive monocultures where the natural environment is scorched to make way for plants like the contentious cotton. From ships with straw filled mattresses which landed on Australian coasts grass seed heads take root and start the invasion. Tumbleweeds, dandelions and Salvation Jane are introduced by accident or intent. Like weeds, viruses can and do have a detrimental effect on our bodies. HIV invaded so many lives and had devastating effects on over 100 friends of mine and countless others who were either infected or at least affected by its impact.