Jenny Kee

Jenny Kee is an internationally acclaimed designer of fabrics, rugs and fashion and an artist who has been a trailblazer in introducing an Australian style to fashion design. Her eye for colour, art and design has embraced many mediums - from rugs, swimwear, jumpers, scarfs, fabrics, uniforms, ceramic murals and paintings. Bondi born, Jenny drew on Australian references that instilled a sense of national pride and identity. During the 70s she designed the first Australian fabric in Aboriginal themes, the first Australian themed knitwear designs and opened Flamingo Park Salon in Sydney’s Strand Arcade. Another first and a sign of Jenny’s enduring appeal several decades on was the launch of Jenny Kee as the first designer for Target homewares in 2008.

Today her fabrics and designs are part of the history of Australian fashion design. Jenny Kee jumpers became a fashion icon and drew attention to the idea of handcrafted design using Australian wool product as the material.
Commissions during Jenny’s illustrious career have included: uniform fabric designs for the Australian Bicentenary; costumes for the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games; and rug collections.

Jenny’s designs have featured in Italian Vogue and have been exhibited at the Art Gallery of NSW, the Australian National Gallery, Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum, London’s Victoria and Albert Museum and the Marimura Museum in Tokyo. Exhibitions of Jenny’s work continue to resonate with audiences.

As a respected member of the design, arts and cultural communities, Jenny was a contributor to the Australian Government Cultural Policy (1994). She was made a Life Fellow of the Powerhouse Museum in 2003 and in 2013 she was named winner of the Prix de Marie Claire Special Achievement Award and the Australian Fashion Laureate Award.

DIA Hall of Fame recognises the achievements of Jenny Kee.