Gumbaynggirr Bundjalung artist Otis Hope Carey has partnered with global luxury fashion house Christian Louboutin in a new collaboration that celebrates First Nations culture on the world stage.
What began as a small project quickly evolved into something much bigger.
“About a year and a half ago, the team from France approached my management and asked if I'd be interested in doing some sort of collaborative work with Christian Louboutin,” Carey told NITV.
“It was initially going to be a little capsule, but it ended up being a 48-piece collaboration range.
"It all happened so naturally, and I think because of that, they decided to pursue a larger collaboration, which was awesome.”
The collection forms part of the fashion label's autumn/winter range.
It features six original artworks by Carey, printed across a range of shoes, bags and hats, including Louboutin’s iconic red-bottomed heels.
Carey said the creative process was collaborative, with the fashion label giving him artistic licence.
The works feature the cultural totem's of Carey's mob, approved by Elders according to cultural protocol.
"They referenced a few of my older pieces that they liked, and I elaborated on those to create a new body of work that gave the collection its own identity.”
Central to the collection is a Gumbaynggirr totem which is a recurring theme in Carey’s art.
“Gaagal, the ocean, is one of our clan totems. So this is an important body of work for us — for Gumbaynggirr mob,” he explained.
“There's cultural protocol ... and engaging with people, with Elders, within your community to make sure it's okay to go ahead.
"You'd think some of those high fashion labels wouldn't understand our culture .. [but] they understood all that."
For Carey, the collection is a way to uplift community and share culture.
“It means the world ... I know everyone back home is proud of me and the collaboration," he said.
"At the end of the day, we’re trying to lift our communities up and keep telling our stories. This was a great way to do that.”
And when asked if he had a favourite piece from the range?
“There’s a backpack that’s sort of beige and red — it’s got red line work on it. I think that’s my favourite piece from the collection.”
The collection is available in stores and online from May 15.
