‘Style-up Murri’ Cairns artist launches fashion label during NAIDOC week

Cairns artist Norman Miller has launched his fashion line during NAIDOC Week, with the aim of giving people access to Indigenous wearable art.

Well known and respected Indigenous artist Munganbana, also known as Norman Miller, has launched a range of fashion items, including shirts for adults and children, featuring his most popular and distinctive artwork. Artist Norman Miller, Timote Fukofuka, 3, Caiden Villaflor, 11, and Dream Barlow-Fukofuka, 6, model Munganbana Style Up Fashion T shirts. Picture: Brendan Radke

Cairns artist Norman Miller has launched his fashion line during NAIDOC Week, with the aim of giving people access to Indigenous wearable art.

“When someone dresses well in Indigenous culture, we call them ‘style-up Murri’,” Mr Miller explained.

“I want people to have wearable art.”

Mr Miller he had planning the fashion “for many, many years”.

He said the designs were focused on reef and rainforest.

One design features a striking kookaburra, another with platypus and another with a kangaroo. Cassowaries, starfishes and stingrays are also prominent among the designs.

NAIDOC Week in Cairns kicked off with a street march on July 5 with chants of “loud and proud, black and strong, fire burns, all day long”. Picture: Bronwyn Farr

Mr Miller launched his first attempt at a mass-produced fashion line during NAIDOC week, which runs until Sunday, July 14.

Cairns’ First Nations people and their supporters kicked off NAIDOC Week with up to 5000 marching “loud and proud” through the CBD on Friday.

The National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aborginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Daniel Rosendale, treasurer with Cairns NAIDOC Committee, said that a jam packed week showed Indigenous culture at its best.

Daniel Rosendale. Picture: Brendan Radke

“As a community we support ourselves unconditionally,” he explained.

“That sense of interconnectedness and relationship building are such strong aspects of our culture.”

The week continues with a program of events including an exclusive lunch honouring the region’s elders, a NAIDOC breakfast at the Cairns Convention Centre with a cast of impassioned speakers on Tuesday, and a trivia night on Thursday at the Cairns Colonial Club.

Yidinji Elder and Gimuy Traditional Owner Uncle Peter “Bumi” Hyde leads the NAIDOC Week march through the Cairns CBD. Photo: Dylan Nicholson

The events will culminate in the NAIDOC Youth Leadership Forum at St Mary’s Catholic College on Thursday, July 18 where year seven to nine students will come together under the theme of “keep the fire burning” to explore, connect, and learn what it means to lead together.

“The theme of NAIDOC is keep the fire burning, blak, loud and proud,” Mr Rosendale said “For us as a community as a whole we are still standing strong, keeping that passion alive.”

Originally published as ‘Style-up Murri’ Cairns artist launches fashion label during NAIDOC week