What Zandra’s been up to in Australia..

Image: Dame Zandra Rhodes by Powerhouse Artistic Associate Zan Wimberley.

Zandra has been busy on a month-long trip around Australia and the USA! On behalf of the Zandra Rhodes Foundation, the first half of her trip saw her fly into Sydney to visit the Powerhouse Museum and complete her donation of key fashion garments and textiles from her extensive archive, collected over an illustrious career spanning more than 50 years.

The rare and historical pieces donated were designed by Zandra in the 1970s after connecting with the landscapes of Central Australia during her first visit to the country. They feature iconic prints inspired by the diverse Australian landscape: Uluru, Rock All Over, Spinifex and Lace Mountain.

Next on her Australian travels, Zandra visited Melbourne where she attended a special event at The National Gallery of Victoria to officially announce the donation of some of her Australian-influenced archive featuring Spinifex pleated boleros and – similar to the Powerhouse – an Uluru printed felt cloak dating back to the 1970s.

Zandra’s donations to these major Australian museums mark a momentous event; being some of the first official donations of The Zandra Rhodes Foundation and the return of some historical pieces of fashion history to the land they were inspired by. 

Lauren Sams, Fashion Editor of The Australia Financial Review, covered both donations in an exclusive piece for the publication. You can read her article via the link below…