Summary

Gammin Threads is an Aboriginal owned business based in Melbourne created by Yorta Yorta, Taungurung, Boonwurrung & Mutti Mutti designer Tahnee Edwards.

Gammin Threads fashion design and product range represents social and political issues that are important for First Peoples across the country and that are significant to identity, intersectional feminism, community life and activisms.

Gammin Threads designs are popular across a large demographic of community and are a part of a new wave of prominent First Peoples designers coming out of Melbourne. There are pop cultural references and design using humour and bold statements including the use of the term 'Blak'. Blak was first used in Australia in 1990 by Destiny Deacon a K'ua K'ua/Kuku and Erub/Mer artist who wanted to subvert the word that was often used against her growing up. By removing the 'c' in Black, Destiny reclaimed this word into a self-determined space. This has been embraced by many First Peoples today and is a word of empowerment and is present in the work of Gammin Threads. First Peoples colloquialisms in the use of language is a de-colonial approach to language and also is a signal for community- terms such as Gammin (popular word for First Peoples that can reference 'inauthentic' but very much a Blak word) sista, deadly (meaning awesome/good) and blak reference a uniquely Aboriginal language and communicate a kinship between First Peoples. Gammin Threads also works to build relationships with non-Indigenous people wanting to support First Peoples design and community creating 'ally friendly' product which means non-Indigenous people can also wear them. Gammin Threads work contributes to the strong living culture, and ever evolving creative expression of Koorie Victoria and are a vibrant example of the creative talent and design of current artists in the community.

"Gammin threads was born from a love of typography, language and Blak pride. It consists of deadly chillwear and accessories for people who believe in living colourfully, paying respect and empowering women" Tahnee Edwards

Physical Description

T-shirt, short sleeved. Yellow textile with the Aboriginal flag emblem sewn on the edge of the right sleeve. Graphic on the front top left comprises a red flower and a black flower/clenched fist. Graphic on the reverse include red and black flowers and the message "respect the / blak / MATRIARCHY".

Significance

The work of Tahnee Edwards and Gammin Threads is an important aspect to the current representation of First Peoples creatives in the design and fashion industry. Their work contributes to the history of First Peoples design and visibility in popular culture and speaks to a long history of First Peoples T-shirt making and protest and community slogans being worn. Most recently there has been an increase in both fashion and jewellery design from First Peoples from across the country and particularly with artists and designers based in Melbourne. The wearable statement of asserting Sovereignty, First Peoples rights, Land Rights, Treaty, environmental issues, feminism and female and non-binary empowerment are all pertinent issues for First Peoples today. The work of Gammin Threads not only elevates First Peoples voice in fashion and popular culture but also has a emphasis on giving back to the community through workshops and various initiatives that focus particularly on empowering and supporting youth and women.

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