Deadly designs bring colour to City Square for Melbourne Fashion Week

The Metro Tunnel’s City Square art space has had a costume change for this year’s Melbourne Fashion Week.

A riot of colourful images and text decorates the temporary fencing around the Town Hall Station building site, with First Nations designers Haus of Dizzy and Gammin Threads taking over the space until November 28.

Brightly coloured love hearts, butterflies and flowers jostle with jars of “blackfulla” Keens mustard, devon lunch meat and donuts, along with playful and proud messages such as “Sistahood”, “Digeridoo the right thing” and “Always was, always will be”.

You can even take home a piece of the artwork – all the designs are available as clothing or accessories. Head down to the pair’s pop-up shop on the lower ground of Melbourne Central, open until February 20.

Mary Parker, who runs the program of temporary public artworks that feature across the Metro Tunnel’s building sites, says she’s been keen to work with Haus of Dizzy and Gammin Threads for some time.

“Both labels have designs that are contemporary, bold and colourful, which work really well on our hoardings,” she said.

“We were thrilled when the opportunity came up to do something with them for Melbourne Fashion Week 2021.”

Mary said the collaborative artwork was a joyous explosion of colour to welcome people back into the city after lockdown.

“My favourite thing about the artwork is the way it cleverly delivers progressive messaging and humour, packaged up as an engaging design,” she said.

“People will find it irresistible to walk past without stopping to smile and take a pic.”

Kristy Dickinson is the Wiradjuri woman behind Haus of Dizzy, known for its playful pieces of statement jewellery that celebrate indigenous culture and feminism.

Her goal, she said, was to imbue a sense of empowerment and joy to those who wore her creations, and to “bring social, political and environmental issues to the forefront” through her vibrant accessories.

As for fashion label Gammin Threads, proud Yorta Yorta and Taungurung designer Tahnee Edwards cites culture, community and cool aunties as her biggest influences.

The label was born from her love of typography, language and Blak pride for people who believe in living colourfully, paying respect and empowering women.

You can follow Tahnee and Kristy on Instagram at @gamminthreads and @hausofdizzy, or visit their online shops at gamminthreads.com and hausofdizzy.com.

Melbourne Fashion Week 2021 is on from November 15 to 21 •

For more information: metrotunnel.vic.gov.au