Lead

At this year's National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA), held in Darwin on Larrakia country, a unique partnership between a remote Northern Territory women's centre and an art studio in India was recognised, alongside the announcement of the major Indigenous Fashion Designer award. The ceremony, presented by the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation as part of Indigenous Fashion Projects, drew locals and art enthusiasts from across the country.

Coverage Comparison

Both reports come from ABC Australia, offering complementary angles on the same events. One report focused on the Country to Couture runway celebration, describing it as Australia's largest showcase of Indigenous fashion, which took place over two sold-out shows at the newly built Charles Darwin University campus in the Darwin CBD. The other report centred on the awards ceremony itself, held at Darwin's Deckchair Cinema, and highlighted the international collaboration that won the Community Collaboration award.

While the runway report emphasised the scale and celebratory nature of the event, the awards report delved into the specific achievements of the winners, providing a closer look at the collaboration between Bábbarra Women's Centre and Tharangini Studio.

Key Claims

Country to Couture is Australia's largest showcase of Indigenous fashion, according to ABC Australia. The event featured 21 collections from Indigenous artists and designers across the country, and was held over two shows to accommodate the growing number of spectators and designers.

Indigenous Fashion Projects manager Michelle Maynard said the event provided pathways for Indigenous creatives, including designers, models, stylists, and hair and make-up artists. "The opportunities people have here can really set them up … they build their networks to be able to access other opportunities," she said. "It empowers people, it potentially changes people's lives."

Claire Summers, executive director of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation, which established Country to Couture, noted that spectators travelled from across the country and even overseas to attend. "Our greatest strength is our ability to bring communities together," she said. "In a country that is a nation of nations, that celebrates over 250 language groups, what we do is offer a place to belong, and to bring First Nations people to celebrate each other, to elevate voices and hear and celebrate stories of First Nations people."

The National Indigenous Fashion Awards celebrated the best Indigenous designers, artists and creatives from across the country. Delvene Cockatoo-Collins won the major Indigenous Fashion Designer award, as reported by ABC Australia. Additionally, a partnership between the Bábbarra Women's Centre, in the remote community of Maningrida, and India's Tharangini Studio won the Community Collaboration award, a category that recognises strong, two-way relationships between First Nations communities and the textile and fashion industry.

Their collaboration translated 78 Indigenous designs from 14 clans into woodblock stamps used for printing, sharing ancient techniques passed down over hundreds of years in Bangalore, also known as Bengaluru. Padmini Govind travelled from India to accept the award alongside Janet Marawarr, who represented Bábbarra Women's Centre. Describing the collaboration, Govind used the phrase "textile magic," noting it was a "craft-led dialogue" when the two women-led organisations met, despite language barriers.

Perspectives

Organisers: Michelle Maynard and Claire Summers, both involved in the events, expressed pride in the pathways and community-building opportunities provided by Country to Couture and the awards. They highlighted the event's role in elevating First Nations voices and creating a sense of belonging.

Award recipients: Padmini Govind and Janet Marawarr, representing the winning partnership, underscored the significance of cultural exchange and preservation, describing the collaboration as a meaningful dialogue that transcended language differences.