Rachel Burke
Rachel Burke’s world is lit up with colour and texture — redefining fashion like we’ve never seen before.
Words: Emma-Kate Wilson | Photography: Courtesy of Rachel Burke
“Working with tinsel came as a result of experimenting with different types of mundane/cheap materials to make something visually striking,” shares Rachel Burke.
On our wish-list, the dazzling Puff Jacket by Rachel Burke.
The trick to Rachel Burke’s unique spin is the unusual medium of tinsel, but it all happened very serendipitously after Rachel was experimenting with different mundane/ cheap materials. The artist had dropped out of her Musical Theatre degree in 2011 and was working in commercial youth-wear when she discovered the fun shimmery medium.
“I started experimenting with this medium and recall relishing how crazy and wild the things I was making at home were in comparison to the things I was producing in my day job,” Rachel shares. “The more I experimented with it as a wearable material, the more I became obsessed with the results that it created.”
Rachel still finds it extraordinary that she ended up as an artist, let alone one who uses colour, tinsel and glitter. “No one in my family had ever pursued anything in the arts — the stereotype of the ‘starving artist’ was often mentioned as something to avoid at all costs,” she explains. “My Mum enjoys a very clean aesthetic, so I am absolutely her nemesis when it comes to my messy, glittery creations!” However, her parents had always taken her to art galleries, museums, and musicals; which encouraged her passion. And it didn’t take long before convincing them to let her use the garage for all her experiments.
“I'm constantly drawing on my past for inspiration. The idea of making my own childhood dreams and imaginings a reality plays a huge part in the works I create,” share Rachel Burke.
Alongside the magical worlds of the arts, Rachel counts the mundane things as the most inspirational. “There is something about the ordinary and mundane I just find so exciting and special,” Rachel muses. “Specifically, things like bakeries selling cakes with icing that look too faded, bargain stores with walls stuffed with faux flowers, children’s bikes parked on the street with glittery streamers blowing in the wind.”
“I try my best to imbue my work with meaning and see everything I create, whether it be a dress or a pom-pom, as an extension of my art practice and as part of an overarching body of work. ”
The artist makes notes of these elements of the everyday in her visual diary; keeping track of all the colours and inspirations. But from there, the designing can take either of two very different paths. Either working from a plan with sketches and colour swatch ideas or just starting without knowing how the work will end up. “As such, some colour palettes are more considered than others,” Rachel shares. “And some will just be dictated by the materials I have on hand.”
Rachel Burke in her incredible Fairy Floss Dress.
Rachel Burke in one of her creations — made from old sample sheets from Castle.
“Working with tinsel came as a result of experimenting with different types of mundane/cheap materials to make something visually striking,” shares Rachel Burke.
“Working with tinsel came as a result of experimenting with different types of mundane/cheap materials to make something visually striking,” shares Rachel Burke.
Working with Disney on their 30th-anniversary celebration for The Little Mermaid was Rachel’s biggest ‘pinch-me’ moment, as was collaborating with ACMI on their Alice and Wonderland exhibition. The artist has also been able to work with some of pop’s biggest stars, such as making a tinsel chair for Miley Cyrus and tour costumes for Kesha. “And, of course, making pieces for Ru Paul Drag Race stars Kim Chi, Naomi Smalls and Detox was just all-time high!” she adds.
Rachel’s favourite project was her most recent ‘kids party’, complete with a capsule collection, for VAMFF this year with fellow designers Eat Me Do and Squint Clothing. “The event was just so magical, and the fact that it happened just before the festival got totally shut down for COVID19 was really not lost on us,” Rachel thoughtfully considers.” We felt tremendously lucky to be able to share our work, and all be able to celebrate together before everything changed so much, so rapidly.”