Edith Rewa Barrett is an Australian based Illustrator and Textile Designer. Edith splits her time between client commissions (In publishing, stationery, fashion and design), exhibition work and her own label, Edith Rewa.
Edith studied Bachelor of Arts (Textile Design) (screenprinting major) at RMIT, Melbourne with a brief sojourn to the Estonian Academy of the Arts. A job at a commercial print design studio took her to Sydney for 3 years before she moved to the Blue Mountains
to work full time on her label with collections ‘’Fossick’’ and ''Field Trip''. Edith is now based in Brisbane, QLD and working on a body of work featuring the Wallum Heathland plants of SEQld.
Photo by Rachel Kara for Broadsheet
Pen illustrations from Edith’s ‘Plant Portraits : Blackheath’ exhibition
From Edith
I create hand illustrated silk scarves which showcase native Australian plants. I like to think of them as wearable silk plant companions, to be worn when needing to feel fierce and beautiful and connected to our natural world. My work is grounded in protecting the diversity of Australia’s natural environments. Through Edith Rewa I’m always looking for new ways to entwine the worlds of traditional botany with the contemporary Art + Design space whilst exhibiting native plantscapes that are under-represented or unknown. I transfer my drawings of plants and place that may not always be geographically or seasonally accessible in our daily lives, onto cloth and paper, making a place to keep memories and plants alive in a different dimension.
Creative Process
I cherish illustrating by hand and taking the time to capture the spirit of a chosen subject. I combine both traditional illustrative practices by hand and the use of digital mediums, playing with scanned work to create compositions and textile repeats on the computer. My drawings, paintings and patterns are a culmination of time spent in different landscapes sketching, observing and mark making. Illustrations from the field are translated through my imagination in the studio, into a plethora of patterns and compositions which highlight the plants personalities and best features.
A small note on production (Local + Slow)
I’m motivated by slow design principles, over seasonal deadlines and trends. I creates from the heart, honouring natural subjects, and a belief that good work takes time. I keep as as much of my supply chain as local as possible, supporting Australian manufacturing, face to face relationships and minimising extra carbon emissions. The scarves, camisoles, scrunchies and Giclee art prints are all proudly illustrated, designed, digitally printed and hemmed locally in Australia. The environment underpins every decision I make within the brand right down to the carefully considered recycled packaging and waste minimising design mindset and production choices (I have just switched to a 100% peace silk cloth base for the scarves which I am excited to share with you all! Watch this space as I commit to full transparency and the telling of my production story and choices in the next few months.
Currently (2024) Production
Scarves : Printed on 100% Crepe De Chine Silk in Sydney. Hemmed in Sydney also.
Scrunchies : Printed on 100% Crepe De Chine Silk in Sydney. Sewn in Brisbane
Camisoles : Printed on 100% silk in Sydney. Sewn in Melbourne (Jessica Allison)
Giclee Prints : Printed in Melbourne (Hound & Bone Studio)