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10 Indigenous Australian Fashion Brands To Support And Admire

Supportive and stunning - by Diandra Malivindi
  • 12 Nov 2020
10 Indigenous Australian Fashion Brands To Support And Admire

Honouring the origins of their country, Indigenous Australian designers are taking the fashion industry by storm.

With events like the Inaugural National Indigenous Fashion Awards, said fashion creators are making their way into the mainstream and captivating our attention—one beautifully ornate print at a time. Representative of much more than what's on-trend, they each support their culture—whether that be aesthetically or financially.

Redefining the term 'Australian-made', these incredibly talented Indigenous artists are here to use their traditional methods and influence to create bespoke garments, each with their own philosophy promoting sustainability.

And while many of us still enjoy browsing popular brands like Zara and H&M, there is a plethora of Indigenous fashion brands that also deserve our love and support.

Below, we’ve rounded up 10 of our favourite Indigenous Australian designers who are paving the way for Aboriginal design in the fashion industry.

Arkie

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@arkiethelabel silk scarves for the latest @hausofdizzy Goddess collection. 😍❤️ 💅🏽 @rosiekalina 📸 @ldvphoto 👸🏽 @soju_gang @aurieindianna

Arkie aims to bridge the gap between mainstream Australia and Indigenous Australian culture. The brand looks to use contemporary Indigenous Art and fashion to create a platform for expression and education of Aboriginal Culture, including a range filled with eclectic colours and prints.

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North

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This year for National Reconciliation Week, we're In This Together. This year's theme clearly reminds us that each of us has a part to play towards reconciliation - building relationships and communities that place Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices, histories and culture at the heart of transformation within Australia. #NRW2020 #Reconciliation #InThisTogether2020 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Over the next week, we're really excited to celebrate some wonderful partnerships in the arts and fashion industries in Australia that provide a platform to share story and in doing so, establish meaningful connections. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Here we see the Nina's Jilamara featured on the Tiwi Jumpsuit from the 2019 Tiwi Strong Women's Collection. Nina Lydwina Puruntatameri. Nina Puruntatameri was taught to paint by her father, Romuald Puruntatameri. As a 14-year-old, she would come home from school and work with him, painting his spears. Nina Puruntatameri has worked at both Nguiu Adult Education and Munupi Arts & Crafts doing bark painting, screen printing, works on linen, etchings and linocuts. Nina is the proud mother of 4 incredible children! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Swipe to see Nina rocking her beautiful design.

Unlike other fashion brands, NORTH's ethos isn't around making money, but rather, it is to support and preserve traditional Aboriginal art. A not-for-profit organisation, the brand works with Tiwi, Warlpiri, Anindilyakwa, Kunwinjku, and Ngan’gi artists to create unique hand screen-printed textile designs.

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Ngarru Miimi

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Tomorrow is the inaugural National Indigenous Fashion Awards! 💛 I'm so grateful and excited to be a dual nominee and more importantly share a platform with a bunch of incredibly talented Mob in our industry. I'm a freshwater woman from a small rural community with the hopes of creating change through Indigenous fashion and textiles. To me, Fashion is a catalyst for change. Seeing, listening and wearing our culture helps showcase our rich and thriving connections to these lands (always was, always will be). Regardless of the outcome, I feel proud to do what I do and create every step of my work entirely on country and actively contribute to an Indigenous led industry. My processes are long and time consuming but it's so fundamental that I respect my cultural integrity and storytelling to ensure us mob lead our own spaces after decades of being ignored, pushed aside and taken advantage of. My blood, connection and country is woven into each stitch, print and design and I don't want it any other way. Mandaang guwu/Thank you to all for following my journey exploring my culture, self determination and sovereignty through fashion and textiles . . . . . #AusIndigenousfashion #Aboriginalfashion #Fashion #culture #wearableart #firstnationfashion #firstnationfashionanddesign #sustainablefashion #ethicalfashion #madebymob #oncountry #visualstorytelling #handprinted #handmade #sovereigntyneverceded #Wiradjuricountry #nationalindigenousfashionawards #indigenousfashionprojects

Ngarru Miimi explores culture, self-determination and sovereignty through fashion. The brand was created by a Wiradjuri Yorta Yorta Gangulu woman, Lillardia Briggs Houston, who ensures her hand-made elements are included in each piece of her work. The brand also repurposes waste from the cutting table to ensure it doesn’t end up in a landfill just kilometres from her on Wiradjuri Country.

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Maara Collective

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Standing proud with the strength of our ancestors . . At the close of Reconciliation Week in Australia, now more than ever, we invite you to stand with us #inthistogether . . . Proud Kamilaroi woman @kieshabovill wears our IDENTITY Resort Collection with accessories made by Yolngu masterweavers; Woven hat by Margaret Malibirr of @bulabulaarts in Raminingining, Arnhem Land. Woven dillybag by Margaret Bambalarra from Mapuru community, N/E Arnhem Land . . Image @cybism Styling & Creative Direction @shanoski HMU @ashleysequeiramakeup Styling Assistant @diana.bmc . . Millinery mentorship by @kerriestanley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #maaracollective #firstnationsfashiondesign #indigenousbusiness #indigenousdesign #australianfashion #artmeetsfashion #culturalpreservation #indigenousfashion #indigenousdesigner #tellyourstory #inthistogether #indigenousmodel #collaboration #aboriginalweaving

Meaning 'hands' in the Yuwaalaraay and Gamilaraay language groups, MAARA works in collaboration with key Indigenous artists and artisans, drawing inspiration from Australia to create a contemporary fashion and lifestyle brand with a luxe aesthetic. Founder/creative director Julie Shaw, a Yuwaalaraay woman from NSW, has developed the luxury resortwear brand to showcase and celebrate Indigenous art and fashion. 

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Bundarra

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Our winter sale just got even better 😮 Save up to 30% on over 100 of your favourite styles PLUS score a FREE cap with any purchase from the sale! Wearing the Gumtree Flowers Shawl, now 20% off. 🛒 Shop sale > https://bndrr.org/winter

Working closely with traditional Aboriginal artists, Bundarra's range includes bright and bold fabrics unlike anything else on the market. Each of their pieces tells a story from the artist’s unique background and perspective and was born with the purpose of bringing Indigenous culture to the mainstream. Additionally, their profits support community development.

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Ginny’s Girl Gang

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Isn't funny how social media opens up this whole new world of people... it makes this huge world a little smaller everyday. I am so lucky to be able to meet like minded, inspirational, strong and deadly people. ⠀ ⠀ I get to meet people like @nessaturnbullroberts who literally is one of the most inspiring and staunchest people I have had the pleasure of working with. Together we came up with this jacket and it represents her and her love for our people so well! ⠀ Let me know what you think below 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾⠀ ⠀ 🖤🖤🖤⭐️⭐️⭐️❤️❤️❤️⠀ ⠀ #aboriginal #indigenous #art #firstnations #australia #culture #aboriginalart #melanin #handmade #artist #indigenousrights #indigenouspeople #blackpeople #original #aboriginalculture #indigenousculture #nativeart #indigenousart #indigenousland #denimjacket #ancestors #customdenimjacket #ginnysgirlgang

Created by Ginny, a Gomaroi and Gamilaraay woman from Brisbane, Ginny's Girl Gang aims to support Indigenous rights and preserve its culture. The name represents Ginny and her three nieces, with the brand's ethos all about culture, positivity, respect and love.

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Haus Of Dizzy

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✨✨ @lillalowanna wearing HOD AMY ROSE HEART HOOPS✨✨ Shot by @luluevenstar HMUA @oshtaylor Styled by @saramaijewels

With a cult following online, jewellery brand Haus of Dizzy, was created by 'Queen Of Bling' Kristy Dickinson. The brand features iconic and eye-catching acetate designs that merge fashion and activism. Proudly championing images of the Aboriginal flag, and socially-charged quotes like ‘Stop Adani’, ‘Abolish the Date’ and ‘Girl Power’, the brand's signature earrings can be personalised to include a name or tribe.

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Gammin Threads

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Love seeing how yas rep your Gammin gear, love it even more when u bring this energy! Thank you @badgalruru__ 🔥🖤🔥🖤🔥🖤🔥🖤🔥 * * * #youngaunty #blackfulla #indigenous #buyblak #buyindigenous #firstnations #indigenousaustralia #fashuninspo #supportsmallbusinesses #mob #dumbdog

Both a side hustle and creative outlet, Gammin Threads was created by Tahnee, a proud descendant of the Yorta Yorta, Taungurung, Boonwurrung and Mutti Mutti nations. The brand offers bold tees and accessories for people who believe in paying respect, empowering women and living colourfully.

Shop here.

Clothing The Gap

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Priya Serrao wearing our #AlwaysWas Tee sparks the important conversation about Eurocentric beauty standards. ⁣ ⁣ A conversation POC men and women face regularly. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Please read below. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ #Repost @priyaserrao ⁣⁣ ・・・⁣⁣ I get the following comments pretty frequently: "you're pretty for an Indian"/ "you don't look Indian" or "you must have some white in you somewhere". ⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ These statements don't come from a bad place and are intended as a compliment. Aside from the fact that these comments assume all people of Indian ethnicity look a certain way here's why they're problematic: it implies that I should feel lucky or proud of the fact that I don't look Indian. ⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ These comments imply that a white, Eurocentric beauty standard is an ideal that I should aspire to. They are part of a larger system (magazines, advertising, Hollywood) which reinforces and perpetuates this social conditioning. Women of colour who are beautiful become exceptions to a white "default." ⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ So before saying something like the above to any person of colour, stop and ask yourself why you feel the need to phrase your compliment like that? What standards are you applying? What assumptions are you making? Will simply saying "you're pretty/beautiful" cover it?

Victorian-based Aboriginal-owned-and-led brand Clothing The Gap aims to help Close the Gap. The brand's profits actively support grassroots Aboriginal health and education programs throughout Victoria. And when it comes to their pieces, they are intended as conversation starters, in order to initiate meaningful discussions.

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Liandra Swim

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One of our favourite things in the whole wide world is to open Instagram and see we have been tagged in one of our LS Tribe's posts 🥰 For example, take this breathtaking shot of @ilostallmyavocados 😍 How lucky are we to have the most beautiful women apart of our tribe!? . . . . Check our IG story to see more of our beautiful LS Tribe 😘 and, if you haven't tagged us yet... Please do! We love love love seeing you all 💙🌊

Created by local swimwear designer Liandra Gaykamangu, Liandra Swim has a strong and inherent respect for the land. The brand aims to prioritise sustainable practices by using fabrics made from regenerated plastics—even its hygiene stickers are safe for home-compost disposal. It also showcases Indigenous culture and inspirational achievements of Indigenous women, naming each of piece after a different Indigenous woman.

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