Zilpah Tart: Taking over Parliament

Posted on 20 November, 2015

It’s not every day your designs are selected for sale by a gift shop in the most prestigious building in Australia.

But Zilpah Tart is now stocked at the Parliament Shop, available for local, national and international tourists to pick up something designed and made right here in Canberra.

Fashion designer Yumi Morrissey specialises in unique women’s clothing and accessories. At Fashfest 2015 she launched a collection created out of a print she designed herself.

The Parliament Kaleidoscope print began with Yumi taking a photograph of the nation’s most famous landmark. The designer then manipulated the photos through Photoshop to form a kaleidoscope pattern.

You can’t really recognise Parliament House on the fabric from a distance but certainly can when you get up close. “It’s partly why the design is so fascinating,” says Yumi. “There’s a true surprise element to it.”

The print was a success and attracted the attention of many, including MP Gai Brodtmann who had Yumi make her a long dress for the annual Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery Midwinter Ball. The print also caught the attention of those working at the Parliament Shop.

The attention inspired Yumi to take the plunge and use the print with other products, other than just with the garments she launched on the catwalk at Fashfest.

As of this week, you can buy bags and scarves made with the kaleidoscope pattern at the Parliament Shop.

The 100 per cent cotton lawn scarves are super soft and 190 cm long, so can be worn in many ways. They’re a great gift and easy to send overseas (think Christmas everyone). Just pop one in a bubble envelope and away you go. No fear of breakage and they’re so light weight you won’t have to spend a small fortune in postage.

The bags come in a range of styles ($65 to $120) with accents of black and red vinyl. The tote bag, made from strong polyester canvas, features a blue vinyl contrast base and flap. The envelope clutch has a hand strap for easy carrying.

Cushions for the home will soon be available at the Parliament Shop.

Yumi is chuffed to be selected by the shop for her exclusive print and new products.

“Parliament is such a significant institution and visitors to the shop include tourists from interstate and all over the worlds, so it’s giving my label exposure to new markets,” says Yumi.

It can’t get better than that.