The dress that says 'YES'!

This gown was first seen and showcased at this years Midwinter Ball at Parliament House worn by Senator Jana Stewart on the 21st of June 2023.

Senator Jana Stewart is a proud Mutthi Mutthi and Wamba Wamba woman from North-West Victoria, and a mother to Jude and Ari and the youngest First Nations woman to be elected in Federal Parliament, and the first Aboriginal Labor Senator for Victoria.

We worked closely with Senator to design this couture fashion statement piece for over four months in the lead up to the Midwinter Parliamentary Ball on Ngunawal and Ngambri Country in Canberra. 

“We wanted to design something especially for Senator Stewart and create a fashion moment in the lead up to the referendum – we wanted to unite people through fashion and a cause” – Laura Thompson Co-founder, Clothing The Gaps.

We wrapped the Senator head to toe in a silk champagne-coloured, one-shouldered gown emblazed the powerful words from the Uluru Statement From the Heart and embroided with the word “yes” in Labor red.  The Senator also wore the red velvet cape emblazoned with the word, “Yes” with every letter on cape taking 45 minutes to embriod.

“This fashion piece, like the Uluru Statement itself, ‘captures our aspirations for a fair and truthful relationship with the people of Australia’, something we should all be working towards. Every conversation this year matters as we lead into a referendum to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice into the constitution. This dress is an invitation to talk about what this referendum will mean, for all of us.” - Senator Jana Stewart.

@clothing_the_gaps YES to the DRESS. An absolute honour to dress @janastewartvic in her values for the Mid Winter Ball at Parliament House. #JanaStewart #ClothingTheGaps ♬ Love Of My Life - Metrow Ar

Media