This influential textile designer wove an unmistakable Australian narrative into her work, writes Chris Pearson.
Design graduate Frances Burke often had her clothes custom-made, common at a time when imported goods were expensive and scarce. In 1937, during a fitting at Georges department store in Melbourne, a staff member lamented the lack of fashion prints from local suppliers. Enterprising Frances, who’d studied at The Melbourne Technical College, National Gallery of Victoria and George Bell school, decided to visit the store’s fashion coordinator, Pierre Fornari, and present her sketchbook. Impressed with her pattern designs, especially those inspired by Aboriginal and Pacific Islander art, Pierre ordered a selection of fabrics for resortwear.
To meet demand, Frances set up Burway Prints with fellow graduate Morris Holloway that year. The move proved timely as word soon reached Georges’ rival, Myer Emporium, which requested their textiles for its premium furniture range and decorating service. Believing the home-fabric market to be more reliable than fashion, Frances obliged.
Denne historien er fra February 2019-utgaven av Australian House & Garden Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra February 2019-utgaven av Australian House & Garden Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Megan Morton's - RURAL IDYLL
The stylist and author reveals the secrets to her decorating journey with Mimosa Moon, her home in the Northern Rivers region of NSW.
RURAL RETREAT
A Colonial-look 1970s property on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria is gently renovated with an English-country aesthetic in mind.
Michael Reid OAM
The renowned art dealer and entrepreneur, who runs a congregation of creative businesses across the globe, shares the moments and muses that have shaped his extensive career.
MASTER peace
Gallery owner Michael Reid has created his own living paradise, a rambling garden he keenly shares with fellow art lovers who visit the Murrurundi, NSW, gallery location.
GARDENS of the world
Up close and personal with the most memorable gardens in Morocco and Spain.
INTO the wild
Three words inspired the rework of this Kangaroo Valley, NSW, home among the gum trees: embracing, vibrant and Animalia.
COUNTRY kitchen.
Flavourful and warming dishes from The Cordony Kitchen with seasonal vegetables as the stars of the show.
HOLIDAY at home
Missing the Indonesian villa they enjoyed on a recent holiday the owners decided to recreate their own retreat at home.
STATEMENT piece
For a holiday home that embodies the coastal beauty of Bermagui, NSW, minimalist bricks were the natural choice, inside and out.
EFFORTLESS charm
With a discrete street frontage, this home fulfils the brief to keep its visual impact on the lush surrounds to a minimum.
