First Nations artist and proud Wiradjuri woman Lauren Freestone has joined forces with Australian shoe brand Bared Footwear for a collaborative sneaker collection.
In collaboration with Freestone, Bared selected Freestone's 'Coal in the Cliffs' artworks as the design to feature on the new collection of sneakers.
Her original mixed media masterpiece pays homage to Wiradjuri Country, the Country of her Great Grandparents.
The artwork blends deep inky tones with light earthy shades to represent the dark coal seams that run through the beautiful sandstone cliffs.
"This piece is inspired by the exposed layers of the earth in the beautiful sandstone cliffs on Wiradjuri Country where my great-grandparents called home," Freestone said.
"The beautiful textures and blended tones of sandstone met with the sharp contrast of the coal seams and algae creates a really beautiful sight."
In the new collection Freestone's designs are printed on the Saker 2, a low-profile retro-inspired design and Bared Footwear's most favoured sneaker styles.
Featuring 100 per cent cotton laces, a customisable fit and a B.plantfoam footbed, it's not hard to see why the design is the brand's staple shoe.
Designed with as much purpose as practicality, $50 from each Lauren Freestone sneaker is donated to the brand's partner, Children's Ground - a First Nations-led organisation empowering First Nations people to have self-determination and enjoy social, cultural, political and economic justice.
Through the ongoing popularity of the sneakers Bared Footwear has been able to donate $110,079 to Children's Ground so far.
Children's Ground chair, William Tilmouth said Children's Ground governance comes from the people and their land, for their children and their families.
"It is about our Elders being our professors and strategists. It is about placing First Nations strategies in front and bringing in the very best of resources to follow their leadership," Tilmouth said.
Freestone said giving back is so important in both life and business.
"My great nanna - Aunty Edie was a very generous lady. Everyone that knew her tells me how beautiful and & generous she was with the little she had which inspires me to try and do the same," she said.
"There are so many important Indigenous organisations that go completely unfunded, giving back is vital to help them continue the work they do in the community."
When discussing her creative process and what art means to her, Freestone said she has been heavily inspired by her family and views art as a way for her to express herself.
"I use a lot of textured mediums so there's a lot of layering and drying time. I usually have a few pieces on the go at once so I can switch between. I generally have an idea in mind of what I want to create and I let it take shape on the canvas. I use earthy muted colours inspired by the landscape around me," she said.
"Art for me is a way to express myself and share our story. It connects me with my Dad and our history. It's given us such a special bond and I think that's what is so beautiful about our Culture is that connection. It's also important for me to carry on our ancestors' stories in a way they weren't able to.
"I have always been creative, my Dad is an artist so it's always been a part of my life. I never ever thought I would be an artist. Painting for me was about learning and connecting with Dad. After a while, I had quite a few people interested so I decided to start a website then a couple of years later when COVID hit I lost my job and that was it."
With a trendy design and rewarding First Nations partner, this collaboration between Lauren Freestone and Bared Footwear has seen the Saker 2 sneaker become celebrated for its purpose and aesthetic.
The Saker 2 is now available as a limited edition collection.
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