Desert Fringe - Rush Dreaming Flutter Dress - 38cm

The Desert Fringe-Rush Dreaming Indigenous Flutter Dress is a beautifully designed and child-friendly doll’s dress which promotes cultural awareness for children to further their learning about Indigenous Australia. The dress is perfect for little hands as it has been designed with no Velcro, zips or clips and can be easily stretched around the neckline to slip over the head or up and over the legs whilst tucking the arms in.

The Desert Fring-Rush print is an authentic Indigenous design by Priscilla Napurrurla Herbert.

The Story Behind the Design

This Jukurrpa belongs to women of the Nakamarra/Napurrurla subsections and Jakamarra/Jupurrurla men. This Dreaming is associated with a place called Jaralypari, north of Yuendumu. Lukarrara (desert fringe-rush [Fimbristylis oxystachya & Fimbristylis eremophila]) is grass with an edible seed. The seeds are traditionally ground on a large stone (‘ngatinyanu’) with a smaller stone (‘ngalikirri’) to make flour. This flour is mixed with water (‘ngapa’) to make damper cakes that can be cooked and eaten. In Warlpiri, traditional painting iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites and other elements. Large concentric circles often represent the site of Jaralypari and also the see-bearing grass Lukurrara. ‘U’ shapes can depict the Karnta (women) collecting ‘lukarrara.’ Straight lines are frequently used to portray seeds that fall to the ground and are collected by women using their ‘parrajas’ (wooden food carriers) and ‘karlangu’ (digging sticks).

Authentic Indigenous artwork designed by Priscilla Napurrurla Herbert

Handmade in Australia

Child-friendly designed without velcro, zips or clips

The dress measures 38cm in length

Suggested to fit over a 34cm doll

Suitable for 3+ years