In the World’s End Shop at the moment are 2 new/old designs, both using prints from North American Plains Indians. First shown in the 1982 Savages collection these designs are the ‘Savage Vest/Dress’ (£180) & the ‘Savage Jumper’ (£465).
These prints were originally sourced from the book Indian Rawhide: An American Folk Art, published by Oklahoma University & written by Mable Morrow (1975).
The Plains Indians (& these prints are from the Sioux) would paint these designs onto the rawhide ‘Parfleche’ bags which they used as panniers & trunks & also for shields as the leather was strong enough to stop arrows. The name ‘Parfleche’, given to the bags by the French colonists is from the French ‘parer’, to parry or defend & from ‘fleche’ meaning arrow.
