UNUSUAL, HANDMADE, BEAUTIFUL, SUSTAINABLE. 
A COLLECTION SPANNING 2 DECADES, 
25 COUNTRIES & OVER 50 TRIBAL CULTURES

"THIS BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN BY PHOTOGRAPHER STEVEN CHEE FOR AUSTRALIAN FASHION WEEK IN 2009, IN COLLABORATION WITH ABSOLUT VODKA.  OUR AFGHAN "WAISTCOAT", BASICALLY A VERY SIMPLE MIRROR-WORK EMBROIDERED DOUBLE BAND WITH COIN DECORATION AND METAL TASSELED ENDS, WAS USED TO CLOTHE THE UPPER BODY OF THE MODEL AND STRATEGICALLY HIDE HER NIPPLES.  WAISTCOATS AND BELTS LIKE THESE ARE WORN BY KUTCHEE WOMEN ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, ADDING FURTHER EMBELLISHMENT TO OFTEN HIGHLY DECORATED CLOTHING.  COINS ARE A SYMBOL OF WEALTH AND STATUS, WHILE SMALL MIRRORS ARE TYPICALLY WORN TO REFLECT LIGHT AND FRIGHTEN OFF EVIL SPIRITS." 
- LINDA HEAPHY

"IF THESE CUFFS LOOK FAMILIAR, IT'S BECAUSE YOU HAVE SEEN A VERY SIMILAR PAIR ON THE ARMS OF LUKE SKYWALKER'S AUNT BERU IN THE TATOOINE SCENES IN THE ORIGINAL STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE. THEY ARE ACTUALLY A PAIR OF BRONZE CUFFS, CALLED THADO KUKI, MADE AND WORN BY THE KONYAK NAGAS OF NAGALAND IN FAR NORTHEAST INDIA.  CHARACTERISED BY THEIR REGULARLY SPACED PROJECTING POINTS AND CREATED BY THE LOST WAX METHOD OF CASTING, ORNAMENTS LIKE THESE DENOTED HIGH HEAD TAKING STATUS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, AND SINCE HEAD HUNTING IS NOW OUTLAWED, THEY ARE NO LONGER MADE AND ARE THEREFORE REGARDED AS VALUABLE ANCESTRAL OBJECTS."- LINDA HEAPHY