Join VERMIN online as we continue the cane toad leather journey on the tropical islands of the Torres Strait, an Indigenous community on the northern tip of Cape York peninsula, one of the many communities affected by this introduced species.
VERMIN duo Lia Tabrah and Perina Drummond will be guided by collaborator, Josh McLean from The Bush Tannery to explore the world of natural tanning and traditional techniques to transform these toxic invaders into a luxury textile.
The alarming cane toad population on Thursday Island is a major environmental risk to Torres Strait's biodiversity and native plant species.
We speak with local community members, organisations in the toad infested parts of the country to learn more of the projects on ground currently in the fight of removing cane toads from our environment.
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Check out the exhibition we curated
Press links
ABC News | Cape & Torres News | The Guardian
VERMIN in its current transition, are looking to become 100% Australian owned and made.
The VERMIN journey into Indigenous communities turning the elusive cane toad to a luxury leather product.
We begin this journey on a recent trip to the tropical islands of the Torres Strait, an Indigenous community on the northern tip of Cape York Peninsula, one of the many communities affected by this introduced species.
After numerous conversations with local Indigenous rangers and pest control officers, our research continues to see firsthand what the cane toads are doing to the local wildlife and environment.
We commence our research into turning these pests to luxury leather.
VERMIN is committed to providing First Nations peoples and communities in the top end an opportunity for employment in their local community and a pathway into the fashion and leather industry by reversing this environmental destruction.
We are also committed to administering the most ethical, sustainable and environmentally friendly solution in our leather-making process.
Stay tuned as the VERMIN journey unfolds to becoming 100% Australian owned and made.
Lia Tabrah
&
Perina Drummond
VERMIN acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and we acknowledge and pay respect to their Elders, past, present and future.
