NAIDOC Week with Janelle Burger

Celebrating NAIDOC Week

Each year, NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to celebrate and recognise the histories, cultures, achievements and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This year is particularly significant, marking 50 years of NAIDOC Week celebrations. The 2026 theme, "50 Years of Deadly", honours the strength, resilience, achievements and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples over the past five decades, while recognising the generations who have helped shape Australia through culture, community, advocacy, creativity and leadership.

For us, NAIDOC Week is also a chance to listen, learn and celebrate First Nations artists and creatives. This year, we're honoured to be collaborating with Noongar artist Janelle, whose vibrant artwork and unique creative perspective inspired this special collection.

To celebrate the collaboration, a portion of sales from this collection will be donated to an Indigenous organisation chosen by Janelle.

Before we introduce the collection, we'd love you to meet the artist behind it.

Let's meet your artist, Janelle Burger!

Born and raised in Fremantle, Western Australia, Janelle now calls Paris home, where she's spent the last 18 years building a creative career from a tiny studio, often accompanied by the sound of rain outside her window.

We sat down for a virtual chat about art, culture, France, dog fashion (naturally), and the creative journey that took her from drawing princesses on pop sticks in kindergarten to becoming a full-time artist on the other side of the world.

From Fremantle to France

Janelle's artistic journey began early.

"I remember drawing little princesses on paper and glueing them onto pop sticks in kindergarten," she laughs. "I think I've always found silly little ways of creating things."

One of her earliest memories of sharing her work publicly came in Year 7, when a teacher asked her to draw a blue-ringed octopus for the classroom wall.

"That might have been the first artwork I ever put out into the world."

Although creativity was always present, becoming an artist wasn't a straight path. It wasn't until moving to France that she began seriously pursuing her dream.

"It took me a while to follow it, but sharing my work online opened doors. Thank you, internet!"

The move itself was driven by a desire for change.

"I was doing the same thing over and over in WA and I needed to grow."

And grow she did.

"Honestly, I'm not sure I'd even be making art if I'd stayed in Perth. Living most of my adult life in Europe has completely changed my mindset. It's opened my eyes to just how big and wild and inspiring this world is."

Finding Inspiration Everywhere

Janelle's work spans illustration, pattern design, fashion, foodscapes and portraiture, often featuring strong women and bold colour palettes.

She's also a self-confessed history nerd.

"I love documentaries about ancient civilisations, art history, the Renaissance, medieval history... all of it."

Then there are indie video games, museums, cafés, people-watching and wandering Parisian streets looking for interesting colours.

"Honestly, inspiration is never in short supply."

Despite living thousands of kilometres from Australia, memories of home continue to find their way into her work.

"When I'm drawing flowers, they're often things I remember from childhood. Walking to and from primary school there were flowers everywhere, trees, leaves... I guess I'm trying to recapture those memories."

Carrying Culture Across Continents

Janelle describes both her Noongar and Sicilian heritage as being deeply woven into the way she sees the world.

"From my Noongar side, it's really about colour and connection to Country. Those earthy, sun-drenched tones of Western Australia are always somewhere in the back of my mind, even when I'm creating from a Parisian apartment."

Her Sicilian heritage influences her work in different ways.

"The bold colours of southern Italian ceramics and markets, a love of fashion and beauty, and that real sense of warmth and family."

Together, those influences create something uniquely her own.

"I feel lucky to carry both cultures with me wherever I go."

When asked what she hopes people feel when they see her artwork, her answer is beautifully simple:

"Hopefully they smile."

Why NAIDOC Week Matters

For Janelle, NAIDOC Week is something she looks forward to every year. "Honestly, we should have a whole month."

She loves seeing celebrations take place across the country and watching each year's official artwork come to life. What feels especially meaningful is seeing how much has changed since she was a child.

"I don't remember it being celebrated anywhere near the level it is today. I'm really happy Indigenous and non-Indigenous children get to witness and be part of that now."

This year's theme, 50 Years of Deadly, feels particularly special. Not only does it celebrate five decades of NAIDOC Week, but it also acknowledges the people, communities and trailblazers who have helped create greater visibility and opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

When asked what she'd like the next generation to take from that legacy, Janelle's answer comes back to representation.

"When I was young, I didn't have many examples of Indigenous people in magazines, global brand collaborations, gaming, music or fashion."

Today, she hopes young Indigenous creatives see something different.

"I want those kids to grow up knowing there are no limits to where their creativity can take them. That's the legacy I want to be part of."

In many ways, that's what 50 Years of Deadly is about, celebrating how far we've come, while creating space for the next generation of artists, storytellers, designers and creatives to dream even bigger.

A Long Dog Adventure

When we approached Janelle about creating artwork for a collection, she was immediately on board.

"I loved being approached for such a fun project."

While designing for long dogs was new territory, that was part of the appeal.

"Designing clothing specifically for long dogs was a completely new challenge, which is exactly the kind of thing I enjoy."

She also appreciated the creative freedom she was given throughout the process.

"Your team were so lovely to work with, and I felt trusted to bring my own creative vision to it. I think that freedom really shows in the final result."

While Janelle doesn't currently have a dog of her own, she remains a devoted admirer from afar.

"My apartment is too small for an animal, but lots of my neighbours have dogs and cats, so I get to pat them whenever I see them."

She also recently returned from Florence, where she spotted plenty of fashionable little sighthounds wandering the streets. A promising sign that long dog fashion is truly international.

Life in France (And Other Important Matters)

No conversation about France would be complete without discussing cultural differences.

The biggest surprise? "The amount of dog poop on the sidewalks!"

Things she misses about Australia include beaches just minutes away, friendly customer service and never having to queue for very long.

What she loves most about France is its passion. "If the French don't like something, they speak up and they don't back down until something changes. I find that incredibly inspiring."

As for habits she's picked up? "I've become very impatient waiting in lines and I complain a lot."

Quickfire Questions

Morning creator or midnight creator?
Midnight creator. Usually on the couch with my iPad around 10pm drawing something silly.

Tea or coffee? Tea.

Book, podcast or playlist? Book.

Beach or bush? Beach.

Meat pie or croissant? Meat pie. No hesitation.

Big dog or little dog? Little dog.

Favourite colour right now? Venetian red. Although last week it was chocolate brown.

And finally, one last question: Should Janelle draw more dogs?

Her answer: "I really should, huh?"

We think that's a definite yes.

NAIDOC Week for Hound-Tees