Inaugural National Indigenous Fashion Awards Nominees Announced

Congratulations To The Nominees Of The Inaugural National Indigenous Fashion Awards

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, Australia is home to some phenomenal fashion talent. Case in point: the shortlist of nominees for this year’s inaugural National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA), announced today.

The awards, which were born out of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair and are being supported by marie claire, are a celebration of the innovation, diversity and ethical work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and fashion designers. And there’s a hell of a lot to celebrate.

Thirty-three designers have been nominated across six different categories. “The NIFA presents an amazing opportunity for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to come together to celebrate the rich heritage and vibrant culture of our First Nations peoples through fashion and textiles,” says Claire Summers, Foundation Executive Director.

The winners will be chosen by an esteemed judging panel – including Yatu Widders Hunt of Aus Indigenous Fashion, Ursula Raymond of the Northern Territory Treaty Commission, Leila Naja Hibri of the Australian Fashion Council and Maria Rinaldi-Cant of Country Road – and are set to be announced on August 5 in a live stream on NITV’s social media channels.

Without further ado, it’s our pleasure to share the shortlist for the National Indigenous Fashion Awards…

Cultural Adornment and Wearable Art Award

Recognises worn items, created as fine or expressive art, used to define or express culture.

Lillardya Allirra Briggs-Houston from Ngarru Miimi | www.ngarrumiimi.com

ngarrumiimi View Profile

NGADHU WALAN BALA | I AM STRONG What exactly does Indigenous Fashion mean to you? Ask yourself this question and join the conversation. Are you happy to wear our artworks knowing it wasn't created and made by mob or do you live by sustainable and ethical practices to support us in our self determination, sovereignty and autonomy. The stories on our fabrics and garments feature our family, where we are from and generations upon generations of sacred knowledge that is so intrinsically connected to our cultural upbringings. You are wearing just a glimpse of the oldest continuing culture in this world. Let us lead in telling our stories through fashion and support us in doing so. This connects to the bigger sovereign picture and allows us to work for ourselves by putting our beliefs and traditions front and centre in the western world while creating culturally safe spaces for us, by us (which hasn't been the case in this country since those tall ships arrived). Our storytelling through fashion needs to mean more than just something to look good in. It needs to ethically empower and showcase all that we have and hold dear as First Nations mob - sovereignty, self determination, kinship, country and connection. Wearing my culture asserts my rightful place and belonging in this country as the first peoples. It reminds me to stand strong on sacred lands through all the pain, oppression and destruction while continually respecting and acknowledging the ones before me who passed fighting their lifetimes for what's right without much change. . To quote a deadly brother and Indigenous model @nathan.mcguire "Indigenous Fashion is the future of Australian fashion" . Show support to us mob by appreciating, purchasing, liking and sharing Blak business/artists/creatives and stop the massive harm caused to mob by unethically purchasing and ripping off of our cultures and storytelling that are our lifeblood. . . . #onwednesdayswewearblak #tradingblak #wearitblak

Peggy Griffiths from Waringarri Aboriginal Arts | www.waringarriarts.com.au

waringarri_arts View Profile

Jan Griffiths from Waringarri Aboriginal Arts | www.waringarriarts.com.au

waringarri_arts View Profile

Debra Beale of Debra Beale Jewellery at Boomalli Art Gallery | www.boomalli.com.au

boomalli_aboriginal_art View Profile

Meet the Artist: DEBRA BEALE ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 𝘔𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘋𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢 𝘚𝘺𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘺-𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳. 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘸𝘢/𝘠𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢 𝘠𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘎𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘢𝘺/𝘞𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘶𝘢 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘏𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴, 𝘚𝘺𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝟸𝟻 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 𝘔𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘢 𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘈𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴, 𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦, 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯'𝘴 𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦. 𝘈 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣Artwork details:⁣ ⁣ ⁣𝘈𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨⁣ Mixed Media⁣ 80 x 106cm⁣ $1,500⁣ ⁣ 𝘞𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘶𝘢⁣ Mixed Media⁣ 80 x 106⁣ $950⁣ ⁣ 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘢 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴⁣ Mixed Media⁣ 83 x 95cm⁣ $1,500⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣⁣ #aboriginalart #aboriginalartist #aboriginalartgallery #sydneyartist #nswartist #nswaboriginalart #australianart #australianartist #meettheartist #artkeepsgoing #design #aboriginaldesigner

Lisa Waup | @lisa.waup

lisa.waup View Profile

Textile Design Award

Includes designs of woven, knitted or other textile constructions, as well as dyed, printed or surface ornamented textiles.

Lillardia Allirra Briggs-Houston from Ngarru Miimi | www.ngarrumiimi.com

ngarrumiimi View Profile

Bunkering down and focusing on creating all that I've been dreaming about for the last 6 months! My ngayirr top and yinaagirbang earrings got me feeling like a SACRED Wiradjuri Yorta Yorta Gangalu woman 👣✨❤️ . . . . . #Aboriginal #Indigenous #FirstNations #AboriginalDesigner #Fashion #AusIndigenousFashion #IndigenousDesigner #firstnationfashionanddesign #culture #sacred #alwayswasalwayswillbe #indigenouswomenrise #indigenouswearableart

Ivy Nargoodah, Eva Nargoodah and Margaret Albert of Rukaji Designs, from Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency | www.mangkaja.com

Kieren Karritpul from Merrepen Arts Language & Culture | @merrepenarts

merrepenarts View Profile

Dymphna Kerinauia, Kaye Brown, Michelle Woody, Nina Lydwina Puruntatameri, Cornelia Tipuamantumirri, and Bernadette Mungatopi at North, from Munupi Association Arts and Crafts Association, Jilamara Arts and Crafts Association & Ngaruwanajirri Arts | www.northhome.org

o_north_o View Profile

Hello, we have a lot of new followers in this space, so we thought it might be a good time to reintroduce what we're all about here over at NORTH and what you can expect from us, this page and our online shop ✨ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ NORTH aims to weave together the stories and talents of Indigenous artists across the Northern Territory through the creation of clothing, accessories, and homewares. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Our intention is to create strong and respectful relationships with our artists and art centres, to generate consistent income streams for art centres, and provide a mechanism for creative innovation in the design space. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We are not an Aboriginal-owned business. We are a non-for-profit organisation, governed by Indigenous & non-Indigenous board members.

Ikuntji Artists | www.Ikuntji.com.au

ikuntjiartists View Profile

Selina Nadjowh from Injalak Arts Centre | www.injalak.com

injalakarts View Profile

This design, printed by Christina & Selina, shows lambalk (sugar gliders) feeding on mannguy (flowers). The flowers arefrom a tree known as mandangdang (Corymbiasetosa or rough-leafed bloodwood). This tree is also prized amongst Kunwinjku people for making mako (didjeridus). Lambalk live in hollow trees and are small,omnivorous, arboreal and nocturnal possums. The common name refers to its preference for sugary nectarous foods and ability to glide through the air, much like a flying squirrel. Djirrihdiddid (sacred kingfisher) also features in the design, a turquoise coloured bird that is often spotted during the dry season in the Top End. The intricate pattern has a sense of subtle movement, as if the leaves are rustling as the lambalk flies past. ❤️💖 All our fabric is hand screen printed on site by talented Kunwinjku technicians. The artist is paid a royalty for every metre printed. ❤️💖 Go to our website or follow the link in our bio #screenprinting #ethicalfashion #backinjalak #grahambadari

Community Collaboration Award

Recognition of effective and productive relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and the textile and fashion industry.

Julie Shaw of MAARA Collective with Bula'bula Aboriginal Corporation | www.maaracollective.com

maara.collective View Profile

MAARA Founder/Creative Director Julie Shaw (pictured left) features in this month's issue of @marieclaireau in their 'It's Time' campaign, alongside a number of prominent Indigenous Australians and allies pledging support and highlighting the need for constitutional recognition of Australia's First Nations peoples . . Despite inhabiting this land for more than 60,000 years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are still not recognised in the Australian constitution. It's time for change . . We're proud to pledge our support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart and marie claire's campaign for the constitutional recognition of Indigenous people #ItsTime @ulurustatement @marieclaireau @maara.collective . . Image @hughstewartgallery Julie Shaw (left) and @edwina__forest from @_aje_ representing Australian design . . Wearing @maara.collective Kirra Maxi Dress in Sunset Ombré . . . . #ItsTime #maaracollective #indigenousdesign #australiandesigner #tellyourstory #maara #artmeetsfashion #indigenousfashion #designwithmeaning #designwithpurpose #fashioneditorial #australiandesign #connectiontocountry #walkwithus

● Hopevale Art x QUT with Guuliil of Hope Vale Arts and Cultural Centre | www.hopevaleart.org.au

hopevaleartsandculture View Profile

People, Culture & Country, a QLD State Schools Art Project| Catalogue 2019

Babbarra Women’s Centre with Publisher Textiles | www.babbarra.com/shop/clothing-fabric/

babbarradesigns View Profile

SEWING SUPERSTARS || Introducing two of our sewing experts, Ester and Lizzy, showing off their latest hand made creations. We have a small but excellent sewing team, who work away each day on their machines, listening to local bands on the radio and catching up on community news. For now these bags and cushions are only for sale in Maningrida at our Bábbarra shop, but one day if we get bigger quantities, we may sell some online. #handmade #indigenousdesigns #naturalfibres #screenprint #sewing #maningrida #tote #bag #cushion #slowfashion

Lisa Gorman (Gorman) and Tommy May, Sonia Kurarra, Daisy Japulija, Nada Rawlins, Lisa Uhl from Mangkaja Arts | www.mangkaja.com

mangkajaarts View Profile

We had such a great time sharing the Mangkaja x Gorman collaboration, it was one of our most widely promoted projects nationally (we have loved seeing people in mangkaja all over the country!) and brought things home in so many great ways. The project involved five senior Mangkaja artists: Sonia Kurarra, Daisy Japulija, Nada Rawlins, Lisa Uhl and Mangkaja founder Tommy May. It also engaged three young Fitzroy Crossing women including @shaniqua_shaw19 who modelled the collection at the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair: Country to Couture program. We launched at the MCA and DAAF and our Fitzroy Crossing models featured in Vogue in our collection! Seeing our clothing worn around Fitzroy by proud family members continues to be a major highlight! Our local catwalk was a gorgeous celebration with the youth and elders of our community at Gwardi Aged Care. So many people were involved in making this collaboration such a success, but we have to thank and acknowledge Lisa Gorman who had the courage and brilliance to work with us to create a collection our artists feel complete ownership of and we are all so proud of. Also we have to acknowledge how much Gorman have given back to Mangkaja community through funds for youth programs and ongoing sharing of our artist's story! Thanks to Arlette Martin of The Copyright Agency who helped us to negotiate a bench mark agreement that we hope will help to inform future agreements for Indigenous artists and art centres making moves in the fashion space! Show us your Mangkaja x Gorman! @_lisagorman @gormanclothing @darwinartfair @mca_australia #indigenousfashion #thecopyrightagency #soniakurarra #daisyjapulija #lisauhl #nadarawlins #tommymay #indigenousmodels @vogueaustralia

Marnin Studio Women's Resource Centre with Design Within Country | www.marninstudio.com.au/pages/ourprojects

marninstudio View Profile

Ikuntji Artists with Magpie Goose | www.ikuntji.com.au

magpiegoose.nt View Profile

Kaiela Arts Artists with Spacecraft Studio |www.kaielaarts.org.au/

spacecraft_store View Profile

Spacecraft Studio has really enjoyed working with Lyn Thorpe and Aunty Cynthia Hardie from Kaiela Arts over last year, joining us from an aboriginal arts centre in Shepparton. We were working together on an incredible extension of the campfire project, printing with charcoal pigment for textile...watch this space for what is soon to be created and available in store. There are so many great celebrations being held for national reconciliation week, look out for events at reconciliation.org.au. For those at home see the reconciliation film club sbs.com.au/learn/reconciliationfilmclub #NRW2020 #InThisTogether #thewilincentre #wilincentre #kaielaarts #kaielaartsshepparton #spacecraftstudio

Tennant Creek Aunties for Rise-Ngurrajuta

Environmental and Social Contribution Award

Excellence and leadership in environmental and social development understanding, and practice in relation to textiles and fashion.

Ninti One Limited | www.nintione.com.au

Anindilyakwa Arts for Bush Dye | www.anindilyakwaarts.com.au

anindilyakwa_arts View Profile

Liandra Gaykamangu for Liandra Swim | www.liandraswim.com

liandraswim View Profile

We love celebrating Indigenous women and culture and we want to share our movement with YOU. Our goal is to highlight the versatility of Indigenous women and the strength of Indigenous culture. We are not exclusive. We are not for a certain demographic or age. We want you to feel proud when you wear our pieces. We want you to learn, when you receive our pieces. We want you to share with your friends and help us spread our stories 💙 . . . . 📸: @elenambw

Perina Drummond for Jira Models |www.jiramodels.com

perinadrummond View Profile

Special Recognition Award

For a group, organisation, or individual that has shown exceptional contribution to the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander textiles and fashion.

Bede Tungutalum | www.bimawear.com

bimawear View Profile

Lenore Dembski for Paperbark Woman | www.paperbarkwoman.com.au

paperbark.woman View Profile

Perina Drummond for JIRA MODELS | www.jiramodels.com

jiramodels View Profile

Grace Lillian Lee | www.gracelillianlee.com | www.jettylove.com.au

gracelillianlee View Profile

🅛🅞🅥🅔 🅛🅞🅥🅔 ❤️🧡💛💚💙this iridescent image taken by talented photographer @the_interloper_ of the beautiful Rhondell Williams @rhondelldajarnwilliams_x during one of the many workshops I held at @miartdesigns too many years ago!! Check out @first.nations.fashion.design for our bright future ahead 🌈🌟🌈 * * * #fashion #art #aboriginal #design #designer #colourpop #blackpride #australianmade #fashionblogger #fashionphotography #fashiondesigner #modeling #beauty

Selina Nadjowh for Injalak Arts | www.injalak.com

injalakarts View Profile

Selina is shown in the process of creating her design: Dilly bags & Bush foods. The design will be exhibited @bendigoartgallery in their upcoming textiles exhibition, and was recently acquired for their collection. Selina is multi-talented; a weaver, painter, fabric designer and printer. Many of the fabrics available online were printed by Selina and her printing partner Sylvia Badari. The design: Selina has created a design that depicts different Manme (bush food) and the tools used to gather them; djerrh(dilly bag) and kunbarllkbu (digging stick). Digging sticks are used to dig up marrdjek (small potato), mankinjdjek (cheeky yam) and karrabarrdda (long yam) which can be identified by its heart shaped leaves and hairy skin. Mangjokban (yam) is found in the billabongs and rivers and is harvested when flowering. This design includes mandem (water lilies), from where wurrmaninj (water lily seeds) can be gathered and eaten fresh from the kulabbarl (billabong). Manme is also collected from trees and shrubs such as mandjalkbedor (white apple), manjarduk (red apple), and mandudjmi (green plum). The manme in this design are collected during Kunumeleng (Nov-Dec) and the beginning of Kudjewk (Jan), the first few months of the wet season. ❤️All our designs come with a story about the design.❤️ #injalakarts #sharingculture #backinjalak #screenprinting

Fashion Design Award

Recognises a commercial fashion label with a minimum of two collections of original design of clothing, jewellery or accessories.

Liandra Gaykamangu for Liandra Swim | www.liandraswim.com

liandraswim View Profile

Julie Shaw for MAARA Collective | www.maaracollective.com

maara.collective View Profile

DETAILS | Discover our 'Jedda' twist-front silk dress styled with woven belt made in Arnhem Land by Yolngu master weaver Evonne Munuyngu of @bulabulaarts . Visit www.maaracollective.com . . . . Model Kiesha Bovill Photography @cybism Styling & Creative Direction @shanoski . . . . . #maaracollective #indigenousdesign #australiandesigner #luxuryresortwear #maara #indigenousfashion #australiandesign #fashioneditorial #inspiredbynature #resortwear #indigenousmodel #aboriginalmodel #luxuryresort #luxeresort #handwoven #collaboration #tellyourstory

Denni Francisco for Ngali | www.ngali.com.au

ngali_australia View Profile

Cheryl Creed for Murrii Quu Couture | www.murriiquucouture.wixsite.com

murriiquucouture View Profile

Head image courtesy of Design Within Country

Alley Pascoe

Alley Pascoe is contributor to marie claire Australia. She spends her days interviewing inspirational women, including career highlights Kasey Chambers, Serena Williams and Julia Roberts (for seven minutes on the phone).

Subscribe & receive a gift from Go-To Skincare-

Subscribe to marie claire

Subscribe Now