Skinny Bush Banana – Bamboo Shirt Kingston Grange

PAINTING STORY

Purrpalanji (Skinny Bush Banana) Jukurrpa by NOLA NAPANGARDI FISHER

‘Purrpalanji’ (skinny bush banana [Rhyncharrhena linearis]) is a twining climber with thin leaves and pink-brown flowers. Its bean-like edible pods are long and skinny, and can grow up to 20 cm long. It is fire tolerant and grows quickly whenever moisture is available. Like ‘yuparli’ (bush banana [Marsdenia australis]), all of the plant is eaten aside from the woody stems.

This ‘purrpalanji Jukurrpa’ (skinny bush banana Dreaming) comes from Pikilyi (Vaughan Springs), a large waterhole and natural spring to the west of Yuendumu, close to Mount Doreen. Napangardi/Napanangka women and Japangardi/Japanangka men are the ‘kirda’ (owners) of the skinny bush banana Dreaming at Pikilyi. Nangala women and Jangala men are the ‘kurdungurlu’ (custodians) of this Dreaming.

Napangardi and Napanangka women collect ‘purrpalanji’ (skinny bush banana) and ‘yuparli’ (bush banana) around Pikilyi in their ‘parraja’ (coolamons). They cook the ‘purrpalanji’ and ‘yuparli’ in hot ashes to get rid of the acidic taste they can have when eaten raw. The skinny bush banana Dreaming is only associated with Pikilyi, and does not travel to other locations. Pikilyi is an important site associated with a number of different Dreamings. These include ‘yuparli Jukurrpa’ (bush banana Dreaming), ‘warrilyi ngurlu Jukurrpa’ (blue mallee [Eucalyptus polybractea] seed Dreaming), ‘kakalyalya Jukurrpa’ (cockatoo Dreaming), and ‘warna-jarra Jukurrpa’ (two snakes Dreaming). In the two snakes Dreaming story, Napangardi and Napanangka women picked lice off of the two snakes living in the waterhole at Pikilyi.

In Warlpiri paintings, traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa and other elements. Curved lines are used to represent the long, skinny edible portion of the ‘purrpalanji’ (skinny bush banana).

GARMENT INFO

• Organically grown wild bamboo
• Loose fit
• Chest pocket
• Bamboo wood-look buttons

COMPOSITION

65%  Bamboo Fiber  35% Cotton

Care and Use Instructions: cold machine wash with like colours. Do not bleach, soak or rub

Do not tumble dry. Warm iron, Do not dry clean

Fabric:  65%  Bamboo Fiber  35% Cotton

Kingston Grange is an Australian family owned and operated company, specialising in importing bamboo fibre clothing.

Over the past four decades they have been designing, manufacturing and importing personalised apparel for men, women and children.

They specialise in producing a unique range of bamboo fibre clothing, distributing to stores all around Australia for over 14 years.

 Why Bamboo

• Naturally Organic – bamboo is grown without pesticides or fertilizers. Luxuriously soft – bamboo feels like silky cashmere.
• Sustainable – Bamboo is one of the world’s fastest growing plants, growing up to a metre in a day. Bamboo is a grass, so once cut it will regenerate quickly without the need for replanting (in the same way as your garden lawn). It grows very densely and so the yield per acre is excellent in comparison to cotton.
• Eco-friendly – one of the most positive things about bamboo is that it absorbs 35% more carbon dioxide than equivalent stands of trees. More bamboo would help to cut the globally rising levels of carbon dioxide and help in the fight against global warming. Bamboo is also biodegradable.
• Comfortable and Anti-Static – Fabric made from bamboo is incredibly soft and luxurious, and has an anti-static nature, so it sits well against your skin without clinging.
• Absorbent – bamboo absorbs up to 60% more water than cotton. This makes it an excellent choice for drawing moisture off the body.
• Antibacterial – Bamboo is naturally and continuously antibacterial, staying fresh and odour free for longer.
• Breathable – the porous nature of the fibre makes it breathable and extremely comfortable against the skin.
• Thermo-regulating – keeps the wearer warm in cool weather, and cool in warm weather.
• Hypoallergenic – bamboo’s organic and natural properties make it non-irritating so perfect for extra sensitive skin
• UV Protective – it cuts out 98% of harmful UV rays.
• Naturally Organic – bamboo is grown without pesticides or fertilizers. Luxuriously soft – bamboo feels like silky cashmere.
• Sustainable – Bamboo is one of the world’s fastest growing plants, growing up to a metre in a day. Bamboo is a grass, so once cut it will regenerate quickly without the need for replanting (in the same way as your garden lawn). It grows very densely and so the yield per acre is excellent in comparison to cotton.
• Eco-friendly – one of the most positive things about bamboo is that it absorbs 35% more carbon dioxide than equivalent stands of trees. More bamboo would help to cut the globally rising levels of carbon dioxide and help in the fight against global warming. Bamboo is also biodegradable.
• Comfortable and Anti-Static – Fabric made from bamboo is incredibly soft and luxurious, and has an anti-static nature, so it sits well against your skin without clinging.
• Absorbent – bamboo absorbs up to 60% more water than cotton. This makes it an excellent choice for drawing moisture off the body.
• Antibacterial – Bamboo is naturally and continuously antibacterial, staying fresh and odour free for longer.
• Breathable – the porous nature of the fibre makes it breathable and extremely comfortable against the skin.
• Thermo-regulating – keeps the wearer warm in cool weather, and cool in warm weather.
• Hypoallergenic – bamboo’s organic and natural properties make it non-irritating so perfect for extra sensitive skin
• UV Protective – it cuts out 98% of harmful UV rays.