Female artists create 'Power Jackets' to mark suffrage anniversary

A small North Shore art house has curated an exhibition to mark the 125th anniversary of the women's suffrage movement.

It's made up of dozens of jackets designed and hand crafted by female artists, with proceeds going to women's refuge.

"This is just a real moment in history I think, of women's voices standing up together and being powerful," says poet and artist Jenny Palmer.

The Power Jacket exhibition at Takapuna's Lake House Arts Centre showcases jackets designed and made by women, in the name of female empowerment.

"I wanted to write a poem just for this exhibition about us being grounded, especially the women of Aotearoa, we're so grounded in our roots here," says Palmer.

She embroidered an original poem to her jacket, and even added a metaphorical "silver lining" underneath it.

Other jackets pay tribute to strong female icons, while some address issues such as equal pay.

Perhaps the most unusual design is one by Taxidermist Antoinette Ratcliffe, which has a real dead sparrow attached to the front.

All the designs are up for sale, and range in price from around $100 to $1500 with a portion of proceeds going to Women's Refuge.

"Women's refuge just felt like a really good fit," says exhibition curator Colleen Pugh. "I know they're pretty underfunded and it being a women's show, it seemed like the best possible charity for this event."

The exhibition's been so popular it's been extended until August 25th.

Newshub.