Indigenous Art Meets Contemporary Design – Woven Skies by Tait and Willie Weston

Featuring the work of Indigenous Australian artists and made using some of the most robust and environmentally conscious materials available, Tait’s Woven Skies collaboration with textile brand Willie Weston represents a deepening of the connection between the Australian environment, its culture and design.

Recognising the growing importance of biophilic design, which seeks to connect people and nature through design, Woven Skies is a range of informal, durable outdoor lounging and dining that takes its inspiration from a deep appreciation for the Australian landscape. Incorporating outdoor fabrics featuring the work of three Indigenous artists, the range celebrates stories about and connections to Country, with each design capturing the artist’s relationship with local flora and seasonal rhythms. The artists’ skill is matched by the attention to detail in each design, and the familiar Australian earthy palette of red and ochre, along with washes of white, blue, and sea green, characterises the pieces in the collection. The shapes and lines are fluid and organic, and yet expressed on Tait’s sophisticated lounging and dining pieces, the result is luxurious and contemporary.

The artists’ skill is matched by the attention to detail in each design, while the familiar Australian earthy palette of red and ochre, along with washes of white, blue, and sea green characterise the pieces in the collection.

Ensuring ownership and self-determination at every step, Willie Weston directly engages artists from Indigenous-owned arts centres throughout some of the most remote parts of Northern Australia: Fitzroy Crossing, the Tiwi Islands and Ampilatwatja. The artists are paid for each metre of fabric produced, as well as receiving a share of Willie Weston’s net profits at the end of each financial year. Ensuring the artistic qualities of the work are not lost, minimal interventions are made in adapting the artworks into repeating designs, ensuring the fabric faithfully reproduces the artist’s hand. As part of launching the collection, Tait has chosen to authentically support Indigenous communities by donating to the work of Indigenous not-for-profit organisations, Children’s Ground and Agency Projects.

Artworks are typically found in the rarefied atmosphere of the gallery. The Woven Skies range, however, is made for the outdoors, and is designed to endure the extreme Australian elements. Each piece is manufactured by skilled craftspeople from robust and environmentally considered materials such as sustainably sourced and dimensionally stable timbers, recycled and corrosion-resistant metals, and GECA certified foams. The Willie Weston outdoor fabric itself exhibits some of the highest performing durability available in an exterior-grade fabric.

Artworks are typically found in the rarefied atmosphere of the gallery. The Woven Skies range, however, is made for the outdoors, and is designed to endure the extreme Australian elements.

Tait Creative Director Susan Tait shares her pride at being able to unite these elements into the Woven Skies range. “Until more recently, it’s been a challenge to find exterior-grade fabrics which offer both patterned elements and perform exceptionally outdoors. We couldn’t be more thrilled to bring this landmark collection to life with such a purposeful brand like Willie Weston. We look forward to strengthening the conduit between First Nations artists and Australian outdoor design.”

Established in 1992 by husband-and-wife Gordon and Susan Tait, the design house emerged as a response to the absence of designer outdoor furniture made to withstand Australia’s harsh elements. Since then, Tait has stayed true to that local consideration, working exclusively with Australian designers and manufacturing. Susan explains that including Aboriginal art and designs takes this Australian connection to the next stage. “For almost 30 years, Tait has honed a proud heritage through working with Australian designers and manufacturing locally, so it’s wonderful to now have the opportunity to showcase the work of leading Indigenous artists with our outdoor fabric offering.”

Ensuring the artistic qualities of the work are not lost, minimal interventions are made in adapting the artworks into repeating designs, ensuring the fabric faithfully reproduces the artist’s hand.

Tait continues to work exclusively with Australian designers in developing its collections and manufactures locally in Melbourne, Gordon explains. “We’re really passionate about Australian design and keeping manufacturing in Australia.” The collaboration with Willie Weston continues Tait’s dedication to supporting local Australian makers, and designers – and now extends this passion into the realm of art.