Jenny Kee collection of clothing, textiles, artwork and archive, Australia/England/Japan/Africa/USA 1967-1995

Jenny Kee (born Sydney 1947) is one of Australia's most important designers, best known for designing and retailing a unique range of colourful clothing and knitwear. One major theme links all aspects of this collection, Jenny Kee's love of Australia's unique natural environment. Her garments are a canvas for her artwork featuring images of native flora and fauna, the opal gem stone and urban icons like the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House.

The Jenny Kee collection and archive was acquired by the museum in 1998 and 1999. They document the evolution of her clothing and textile designs, the creative process behind her designs, the development and management of her retail outlets Flamingo Park and Jenny Kee, the significant role she played in environmental activism in Australia and her public profile as a celebrity artist with-in the advertising industry.

The collection and archive document her life and work over twenty years and includes clothing and textiles by Jenny Kee as well as Kee's business partner Linda Jackson (b. 1950), original artwork for many of Kee's designs, business records, newspaper and magazine clippings, videos of parades, parade invitations, props and programmes, shop mannequins, shop signs, scrapbooks and posters.

The collection and archive not only records Jenny Kee's life and work, but also can be read as a document that charts important cultural changes in Australia. Kee was born in Bondi, to a Cantonese businessman father and Italian/British mother. An early newspaper clipping shows her modelling as the face of Canadian Airlines. In the 1960s, she, like many other young Australians, spent several years enjoying the creative atmosphere of 'Swinging London'. She returned to Australia in the early 1970s and attracted by the encouraging cultural climate of the new Whitlam led Labor government, decided to stay. Kee then opened her Flamingo Park' 'frock salon' in the Strand Arcade in Sydney selling her own designs as well as the work of other innovative designers like Linda Jackson, Peter Tully (1947-1992) and David McDiarmid (1952-1995). Many of the pieces sold through the shop are included in the collection as well as signage, programmes and videos of the lively parades she and Linda Jackson produced.

The collection preserves a unique record of this important designer's personal and professional career from the 1960s through to 1995.

Outfit, womens, shirt/ jacket/ pants/ skirt/ head wrap/ shoes/ brooch, 'Oz jacquard' / 'Waratah Woman', silk, Jenny Kee/ Rainbow Fabrics/ Tokio Kumagai/ Andrew Logan, Australia/ Italy/ England, 1986-1989.

Outfit comprising loose fitting shirt, loose fitting duster jacket, pants, full skirt and head wrap all in 'Waratah Woman' print on an 'Oz Jacquard' ground. The bright multicoloured print consists of two women with waratah headdresses and 'Sexy' print shirts as well as sections from other prints. A pair of red shoes and a brooch complete the outfit.

Jacket: long line, loose fitting duster jacket with long sleeves that have cuffs fastening with one small gold metal button. Deep V-neck with narrow turn down collar and peaked lapels. Two patch pockets at left and right front at hip level. Centre front opening fastens with three large gold metal buttons. Machine sewn and unlined.

Shirt: long loose fitting, untailored shirt with long sleeves that have cuffs fastening with one small black plastic button. One patch pocket at proper left breast. Turn down collar at centre front opening that fastens with five small black plastic buttons. Machine sewn and unlined.

Skirt: loose fitting full skirt to mid calf gathered onto an elasticised waist band. Two short vents at side seams hem. Machine sewn and unlined.

Trousers: pair of loose fitting, untailored straight legged trousers gathered onto an elasticised waistband. Two slash pockets at left and right side seams at hip level. Machine sewn and unlined.

Headwrap: headwrap made up a large 'loop' of fabric lined with multicoloured 'opal' print silk, and a long length of self lined fabric.

Shoes: pair of slip on, flat shoes made of red pony skin. The uppers have a slightly pointed toe and elastic inserts at the sides. Leather soles with very short heel and beige leatherette innersoles and lining.

Brooch: butterfly shaped brooch made of black resin and decorated with large pieces of coloured mirror, glass jewels in purples, pink and greens, and glitter. A large safety pin is set into the back as a clasp.

Waratah Woman print and Oz Jacquard weave ground designed by Jenny Kee.

Fabric printed by Rainbow Fabrics, Italy. Clothing items made by Jenny Kee in Australia. Shoes made by Tokio Kumagai in Italy and brooch by Andrew Logan in England.

This outfit was made in 1986-1989.

This outfit was worn by Jenny Kee.

Purchased 1999

Jacket: labels all at centre back neck, red and black fabric 'JENNY KEE', white fabric 'PURE SILK', white fabric 'DRY CLEAN/ONLY'.
Shirt: red and black fabric label inside centre back neck 'JENNY KEE'.
Skirt: labels all at centre back waist, red and black fabric 'JENNY KEE', white fabric 'PURE SILK', white fabric 'DRY CLEAN/ONLY'.
Trousers: labels all at centre back waist, red and black fabric 'Flamingo Park', white fabric 'PURE SILK', white fabric 'DRY CLEAN/ONLY'.
Headwrap: no labels.
Shoes: cream fabric label on innersoles 'TOKIO KUMAGAI/PARIS/MADE IN ITALY', impressed on soles 'VERO/CUOIO/38'.
Brooch: inscribed on back in blue ink 'EXQUISITE FAVOURS/Andrew logan/95'.

99/6/39