Rowan Shepherd

Outback Heirlooms draws inspiration from the world of marsupials, transforming creatures of the outback into functional heirlooms. Reimagining the kangaroo’s pouch as a bag, Rowan takes inspiration from marsupials for her imagery and colour palette. The work is further influenced by historical references such as reticules from the Gawthorpe Textile Collection and her mother’s antique taxidermy bag, which inspired the bag’s silhouette, alongside taxidermy and cigarette cards found in museums.

At the heart of Outback Heirlooms is a statement bag featuring a kangaroo head created using free motion machine embroidery, stuffed to form a sculptural shape reminiscent of taxidermy. Layered with many threads to achieve the desired texture and depth, hand embroidery and beading enhance the tactility of the piece, while plastic threads heighten its lifelike qualities. In contrast to the traditional craft, the bag’s handle features a laser cut and etched koala, as well as digitally printed fabric linings created from hand painted watercolour cigarette cards arranged in a repeat pattern.

Completing the collection, the bag holds two coin purses in its pouch as if they were joeys. Again using embroidery techniques, Rowan continues to create lifelike forms. With a focus on animal heads, she references taxidermy plaques in museums and hopes to evoke the same sense of curiosity found in historical artefacts.