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Meet The Fashion Designers Honouring Indigenous Culture

"People are finally taking notice of this movement that’s happening in Indigenous art and design" - by Alley Pascoe
  • 03 Jan 2020
Meet The Fashion Designers Honouring Indigenous Culture

The year 2020 marks 250 years since James Cook’s first voyage to Australia, yet today Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people still aren’t acknowledged in our constitution.

The time is now for recognition and reform, as called for in the Uluru Statement from the Heart. We’re calling for real change, not mere symbolism. It’s time Indigenous people are acknowledged as our First People and have their voice enshrined in the constitution.

This month, marie claire joins forces with some of Australia’s biggest and brightest names to unite for change. Here, two Australian designers tell us why the issue matters to them...

JULIE SHAW, CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT MAARA COLLECTIVE

“I first created Maara Collective to showcase Indigenous art and fashion. Maara means ‘hands’ in the Yuwaalaraay and Gamilaraay language groups, and I wanted to honour the ‘many hands’ involved in the creative process. I launched the brand at the From Country to Couture runway show in Darwin in August and collaborated with a group of Aboriginal women from the Bula’bula Arts centre in North-East Arnhem Land. The atmosphere at the show was electric – every model that stepped out was applauded. It was as if people were finally sitting up and taking notice of this movement that’s happening in Indigenous art and design.”

maara.collective View Profile
41 likes - View Post on Instagram
Meet our Creative Director | Julie Shaw is a proud Yuwaalaraay woman from Lightning Ridge outback NSW, now living and working in Sydney Australia. Having worked in the fashion industries of Sydney, Melbourne & London, Julie founded luxury Fashion & Lifestyle brand MAARA Collective to fulfil her dream of collaborating with Indigenous artists, designers and entrepreneurs. The new Resort '20 Collection has been co-created with Bula'bula Art Centre from North East Arnhem Land who have produced a range of bespoke traditionally woven accessories to complement the collection, which will debut at the 'From Country to Couture' runway show at @darwinartfair this month. Follow our journey at www.maaracollective.com | Image: Tina Phipps, shot on location at Nullawa Station, Yuwaalaraay Country . . #maarafashion #maaracollective #indigenousdesign #collaboration #australiandesigner #luxuryresortwear #tellyourstory #maara

EDWINA FOREST, CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT AJE.

“I remember being 19 and going to the Art Gallery of NSW for the
first time to look at [Indigenous artist] Minnie Pwerle’s artwork. There’s so much soul that goes into her work. Our Resort 2017/18 collection was inspired by Minnie and named Awelye, which means women’s ceremonies in her language, Anmatyerre. We wanted to capture Minnie’s powerful connection to the land. It’s crushingly sad that we don’t acknowledge the rightful owners of the land in Australia’s constitution. It’s time to make a proper change
– something that should have happened [many] years ago.”

edwina__forest View Profile
187 likes - View Post on Instagram
Aje 'Awelye' Resort 17/18 ... Finally in stores! A collection so close to our hearts. To have been blessed with the opportunity to work within the archives of iconic Australian indigenous artist, Minnie Pwerle, and to bring her artwork to new life through our Resort Collection, has been such an amazing journey and honour. 'Awelye', the Anmatyerre tribal word for women's ceremonies, is a coming together of the body, the land, and the community through ritualistic dance. Transposing selected works into Aje silhouettes, fabrications and techniques, this collection endeavours to communicate a message of women's strength, femininity and a shared love of the Australian landscape in all its richness and diversity. Thank you to Jade and Fred Torres from @pwerlegallery for making this possible and for your faith and belief in us. We look so forward to celebrating with you in Adelaide this weekend during #AdelaideFashionFestival 🖤🖤🖤#AjeTheLabel #Awelye #Resort18 #NewSeason #Style #Design #PwerleGallery

Photography by Hugh Stewart.

This story originally appeared in the February issue of marie claire, out now. 

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Alley Pascoe
Alley Pascoe
Alley Pascoe is marie claire’s Acting Features Editor and resident country music fan. She spends her days interviewing inspirational women, including career highlights Kasey Chambers, Serena Williams and Julia Roberts (for seven minutes on the phone).

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