Firebirds’ bold gear a symbol of unity

THE Queensland Firebirds have amplified the Indigenous art on their playing dresses after a push by players to blend the team’s past and future in a custom-fit garment they hope will help propel them back to the Super Netball finals.

In what’s believed to be a league-first, each player had a uniform custom made by Brisbane-based Sylvia P Sportswear to ensure comfort.

Players generally order offthe-rack sizes, with some teams also altering to suit the individual height of players.

But in consultation with players Tippah Dwan and Lara Dunkley, the family-run company came up with a unique design that celebrates the Firebirds’ 25th anniversary, before making individual patterns and garments for each squad member.

While Super Netball celeb brates an Indigenous round w with each team w wearing oneoff dresses, the Firebirds – the only team featuring an Indigenous player – have an element of art on their regular uniform. The players wanted it amplified this year to underline their commitment to the state’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

“There was a really big emphasis on making more Indigenous art on our dress for every game,” Dwan said of panels of art that run down both sides of the dress, as well as the back.

“We had a little symbol last year but it wasn’t too bold, so we wanted to make sure that we have the Indigenous culture in our dress when we play every week, not just celebrating it on Indigenous round – which is very important to do but we wanted it there all the time.”

The club’s mascot, the Firebird, is also more prominent, while the left shoulder features a “Q” for Queensland to demonstrate the players’ commitment to the whole of the state.

Dunkley said the dress – in the familiar home-court purple, with a lilac away version – meant “so much” to the group in the club’s 25th anniversary season.