Linda Jackson (designer) facts for kids
Linda Jackson (born 15 September 1950) is an Australian fashion designer, shop owner, and artist. She is known for her bright, colourful designs inspired by the Australian landscape and its unique plants and animals.
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Linda Jackson's Life Story
Jackson was born in Beaumaris, Victoria, a suburb near the bay in Melbourne. Her parents were ballroom dancers. They encouraged her to be creative. She studied fashion and design at a college in Melbourne. She also studied photography there.
In 1966, she left Australia to travel. She explored Papua New Guinea, other parts of Asia, Europe, and England. She called these travels her "university of life." This meant she learned a lot from her experiences.
Jackson returned to Sydney in 1972. Before coming back, she worked as a dressmaker in London. She visited fashion workshops in Paris. There, she learned special techniques for making clothes by hand. She loved using beautiful fabrics like silk and crepe.
Starting Flamingo Park
In 1973, Linda met designer Jenny Kee at an art show in Sydney. They became business partners. Together, they opened a fashion shop called Flamingo Park Frock Salon. It was located in The Strand Arcade in Sydney.
Jackson worked with Kee until 1982. After that, Jackson started her own fashion lines. These included "Bush Couture" and "Bush Kids."
During this time, Jackson also worked with other artists. These artists included Bruce Gould, Deborah Leser, David McDiarmid, and Peter Tully. They hand-painted fabrics for her dresses. They also made jewellery to go with her outfits.
Later Work and Inspiration
In 1989, Jackson designed a range of accessories for Oroton. She used Australian designs that she loved. These included the desert pea, waratah flowers, gum leaves, and Australian birds.
June McCallum, a former editor of Vogue magazine, praised Jackson's clothes. She said they were "wonderfully witty, beautiful pieces." She also called them "imaginative, inventive and exciting to wear."
In the 1990s, Jackson moved to Arnhem Land. This is a region in northern Australia. She lived and worked with Aboriginal communities there. She also spent time in Queensland. She worked with artists from Mossman Gorge, Queensland. Together, they created hand-painted silk scarves. Jackson also showed her paintings and photographs in exhibitions.
Powerhouse Museum Exhibition
In 2019, the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney held a big exhibition. It showed the work of Linda Jackson and Jenny Kee. The exhibition included items from the museum's collection. It also had pieces from Jackson's and Kee's personal collections.
Jackson spoke about their creative partnership. She said they wanted to show their pride in Australia. They also wanted to show how Australia's unique environment inspired them. She explained that they both loved colour, nature, and the Australian bush. They aimed to bring this to life in their designs.
Exhibitions of Her Work
- 1989: Australian Fashion: the Contemporary Art at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. This show also travelled to Korea and Japan.
- 2012: Bush Couture at the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.
- 2019: Step Into Paradise at the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney. This was a joint exhibition with Jenny Kee.
Awards and Special Recognition
- 1977: She won the Fashion Industry of Australia Lyre Bird Award. She shared this award with Jenny Kee.
- 2018: She was made an Officer of the Order of Australia. This award recognised her important contributions to the Australian fashion industry.
What Influenced Linda Jackson
In the late 1960s and 1970s, Linda Jackson was influenced by several artists. These included designer Peter Tully, artist David McDiarmid, and fashion designer Clarence Chai.
Later, her experiences in the Australian outback influenced her. She was also inspired by the art of Indigenous Australian artists. Traditional textiles from Papua New Guinea and traditional beading from Kenya also played a part.
