Dilly Bag by Rose Wilfred

Nunggayinbala people have used dilly bags for thousands of years for practical and ceremonial purposes, but not until recently were they made from repurposed ghost nets and shade cloth fabric. Dilly bags, or “yir” in Nunggubuyu language, were traditionally made from pandanus or bark, and painted using different shades of ochre.

Rose has taken tradition to the next level by replicating the forms using found, contemporary materials that speak to the environmental deterioration of their homelands. Brightly coloured acrylics replace ochre stripes for clan identification and individual expression.

These fashion-forward yir fit as naturally in traditional applications as they do in contemporary, urban environments. Equally, hang them on a wall or fill them with your groceries, beach towel or daily necessities as you head out the door.