VERMIN
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.
For more information contact Lia Tabrah and Perina Drummond at hello@verminthelabel.com
SCROLL THROUGH THE RECENT VERMIN JOURNEY BELOW
Lia Tabrah launched VERMIN in 2019 for MONA Museum Eat the Problem pop up shop

Lia Tabrah and Perina Drummond in Thursday Island 2020

Sylvia Tabua at Radio 4MW

Lia and Perina with Sylvia Tabua at Radio 4MW

Radio 4MW Facebook page

Front cover of Cape & Torres News 2020

ABC News online by Jesse Thompson 2020

ABC News online by Jesse Thompson 2020

ABC News online by Jesse Thompson 2020

ABC News online by Jesse Thompson 2020

ABC News online by Jesse Thompson 2020

Perina and Lia at The Bush Tannery workshop

Josh McLean from The Bush Tannery
Flying in to Torres Strait Islands

Arrived at Horn Island


Thursday Island

Controlling the toads on the islands

Controlling the toads on Thursday Island

Spot the toad Thursday Island

Lia and Perina in their toad hunting uniform

Lia and Perina in their toad hunting uniform

Lia and AJ toad hunting in Thursday Island

Local boy AJ toad hunting in Thursday Island

AJ Toad Hunting in Thursday Island

Toad hunting catch on Thursday Island

drying out the toad skins in Thursday Island

Leaving Horn Island

Visiting Gordonvale from Cairns

Terry Selwood – the legendary toad supplier sitting in his Cairns office of 30 years
Terry was rocking the same shirt from his star role in the documentary – Cane Toads: The Conquest

Sugarcane fields in Gordonvale where cane toads were first introduced in 1935

Sugarcane fields in Gordonvale where cane toads were first introduced in 1935

Cane Toad World in Gordonvale

Cane Toad World in Gordonvale

‘Toad Man Jack’ and his wife showing us his toad ‘Anthropomorphic Taxidermy Art’ in Gordonvale
Morgane Pinet stitching the the toad leather from Thursday Island
Thursday Island toad leather stitched by French luxury bag maker, Morgane Pinet

The Guardian article published in March 2020