A real MadeApt piece
Mary’s Custom Emu Dreaming Shirt Dress
A made-to-measure cotton shirt dress, created for Mary.
This dress began with a bold blue Emu Dreaming cotton drill sourced in Perth, Australia. From there, MadeApt helped turn the fabric into a wearable custom shirt dress, sewn by Enisa in Sarajevo and later photographed by Mary by the sea in the United States.
It is one of the earliest MadeApt pieces, made while we were still testing the process, the measurements, the tailor flow, and the idea that custom clothing could feel more personal, more human, and more connected than buying something off the rack.
- Made to her measurements, not a standard size
- Cut and sewn by a real tailor, one piece at a time
- Artist and artwork named, fabric story honoured
Made to your measurements · Royalties paid to the artist · Ready 2–3 weeks after your tailor accepts
At a glance
About Mary’s Custom Emu Dreaming Shirt Dress.
Mary’s dress is a made-to-measure button-front shirt dress with short sleeves, a structured collar, a waist tie, and a softly flared skirt. It is cut from 100% cotton drill, a heavier cotton twill that gives the piece more structure than a lightweight cotton, while still being comfortable enough for everyday wear.
The fabric features Yankirri Jukurrpa, also known as Emu Dreaming, by Ricardo Jampijinpa Gallagher, through Warlukurlangu Artists of Yuendumu. It was sourced in Perth, Australia, then sent to Enisa in Sarajevo, where it was cut and sewn to Mary’s measurements.
The shape is easy but intentional: a classic shirt collar, front buttons, short sleeves, a defined waist, and a tie belt that can be adjusted depending on how Mary wants to wear it. The result is a dress that feels bright, practical, personal, and deeply connected to the fabric that started it.
- Type
- Shirt dress
- Fabric
- Emu Dreaming cotton drill
- Artwork
- Yankirri Jukurrpa by Ricardo Jampijinpa Gallagher
- Fit
- Made to Mary's measurements
- Fabric sourced
- Perth, Australia
- Maker
- Enisa, Sarajevo
- Customer
- Mary, United States
- Status
- Completed custom piece
The journey
From Perth fabric to Sarajevo tailor to an American shoreline.
01 · Perth, Australia
The fabric
A bold blue Emu Dreaming cotton drill, featuring Yankirri Jukurrpa by Ricardo Jampijinpa Gallagher through Warlukurlangu Artists of Yuendumu, sourced in Perth.
02 · Sarajevo
The making
Enisa cut and sewed the dress to Mary's measurements in her Sarajevo studio — collar, button front, waist tie, and flared skirt, shaped around one person.
03 · United States
The dress, worn
Mary photographed the finished dress by the sea — a real piece, made for one person, worn in the light it was made for.
The fabric
Emu Dreaming cotton drill, sourced in Perth.
Cotton drill is a heavier-weight cotton twill, often used for pants, jackets, uniforms, and casual dresses because it has more body than a light cotton poplin. For this dress, that structure helped the collar, button front, sleeves, waist tie, and skirt hold their shape.
The fabric is bold, graphic, and full of movement, so the dress design needed to respect the print rather than overcomplicate it. The shirt dress shape gave the fabric room to be the main feature.
Yankirri Jukurrpa / Emu Dreaming
The artwork describes an emu Dreaming from Ngarlikurlangu, north of Yuendumu — the emu, the bush turkey, bush raisins, and the traditional making of kapurdu, or fruit balls. MadeApt did not create this artwork. Our role was to source the fabric in Perth and work with it respectfully, because fabric is not just print. It can carry people, place, story, and culture.
The dress, worn
Photographed by Mary, by the sea.
Your turn
A real dress, made for one person, by a real tailor.
You can order Mary’s dress made to your measurements in the same Emu Dreaming cotton drill — or start your own piece from a fabric and an idea, the way Mary did. Either way, a real tailor makes it for you, and most pieces are ready 2–3 weeks after your tailor accepts the order.
How MadeApt works →FAQ
Common questions about Mary’s dress.
- What is Mary's Custom Emu Dreaming Shirt Dress?
- Mary's Custom Emu Dreaming Shirt Dress is a made-to-measure button-front shirt dress with short sleeves, a structured collar, a waist tie, and a softly flared skirt, made by MadeApt from Emu Dreaming cotton drill.
- What fabric was the dress made from?
- The dress was made from 100% cotton drill featuring Yankirri Jukurrpa, also known as Emu Dreaming, by Ricardo Jampijinpa Gallagher, through Warlukurlangu Artists of Yuendumu. The fabric was sourced in Perth, Australia.
- Who sewed Mary's custom shirt dress?
- The dress was cut and sewn to Mary's measurements by Enisa, a tailor in the MadeApt maker network based in Sarajevo.
- Was the dress made to Mary's measurements?
- Yes. The dress was made to Mary's measurements rather than a standard size, which is how every MadeApt piece is made.
- Who created the Emu Dreaming artwork on the fabric?
- The artwork is Yankirri Jukurrpa (Emu Dreaming) by Ricardo Jampijinpa Gallagher, connected to Warlukurlangu Artists of Yuendumu. MadeApt did not create the artwork — our role was to source the fabric in Perth and work with it respectfully.
- Can I order a dress like Mary's?
- Yes. Mary's Emu Dreaming Shirt Dress is available to order for $350 AUD, made to your measurements in the same Emu Dreaming cotton drill. You can also design your own version — or any other piece — at madeapt.com/create.
- How much does Mary's Emu Dreaming Shirt Dress cost?
- The dress is $350 AUD, made to your measurements. The price reflects the made-to-measure cut, the royalties-paid artist fabric, and single-piece production by a vetted MadeApt tailor.
- How long does a custom piece like this take?
- Most MadeApt garments take 2–3 weeks from the time your tailor accepts the order. Shipping time is additional and depends on your location.