IT’S not everyday a message sent directly from the red carpet at the Logies to Moree blows the lid on a fashion industry secret – but that’s exactly what happened earlier this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Moree’s Colleen Tighe-Johnson was commissioned to design a dress for Australian TV’s night of nights and bound by confidentiality agreements not to reveal who was wearing going to wear it.
But Shareena Clanton received so many compliments on her distinctive gown in Melbourne’s Crown Casino she posted a picture and a thank you to Ms Tighe-Johnson on Facebook and the game was up.
“She messaged me in the middle of the Logies – that’s when it finally hit home that my dress was on the red carpet,” Ms Tighe-Johnson. “It was a dream come true.”
The fashion designer, however, is still coming to terms with the full significance of the event.
“It might be the first time an Aboriginal person has designed a dress for an Aboriginal actor at the Logies,” she said.
Ms Tighe-Johnson had only a “hard and fast” four weeks to create the dress, working closely with the actor from prison drama ‘Wentworth’ to come up with a unique design.
Though she remained tight-lipped about the identity of her mystery client, it was clear to those in the know which dress came from Moree.
“Everyone else was in dark colours and there was Shareena in blue and pink,” Ms Tighe-Johnson said.
Ms Tighe-Johnson’s designs stand out in another way. She chooses to buck a trend which has seen the amount of clothing covering the body in steady retreat for years.
“It’s much more feminine that way,” she said. “I prefer to reveal the shape of the body through the clothes.”
This was the reason Ms Clanton chose to work with Ms Tighe-Johnson; she wanted a unique design made specifically for her.
“She wanted an indigenous designer because she wanted a dress with story lines,” Ms Tighe-Johnson said. “She wanted to wear something with meaning.”
The result was the exclusive ‘Rainbow Dreaming’ dress, which according to Ms Tighe-Johnson reflects the colours of the rainbow serpent and the beginning of time.
The bright colours were also chosen to match opal jewellery and Ms Clanton’s nails and hair.
“I don’t just pick a dress off a rack, I do a holistic design from head to toe which brings out the positive features of the person I work with and fits their personality,” Ms Tighe-Johnson said.
The evening was capped off for the two women when ‘Wentworth’ won Most Outstanding Drama Series and Ms Clanton’s colleague Danielle Cormack won Most Outstanding Actress.
“Shareena was so easy to work with. She had such a pleasant personality and a very strong knowledge and respect for her culture, so that made it even more special for me,” Ms Tighe-Johnson said. “And important – we got to showcase our culture.”
The whole evening was not only a career highlight for Ms Tighe-Johnson and her Buluuy Mirrii label, it was an important stepping stone as she heads to New Zealand for an international indigenous design event.
Held in New Plymouth this July, the Indigenous Fashion Runway will also host designers from Canada, the United States and Africa.