Wollongbar designer Kylie Caldwell a 2023 National Indigenous Fashion Awards finalist
Bundjalung woman Kylie Caldwell will be a torchbearer for northern NSW at a prestigious fashion awards after being short-listed in two major categories.
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A multi-talented Wollongbar artist has been short-listed in two of the six categories at this year’s National Indigenous Fashion Awards.
A qualified pattern-maker, Kylie Caldwell has been “playing on the edge” of the fashion industry for almost 25 years.
2023 is the first time Ms Caldwell has been a finalist in the national awards and it shapes as a career milestone.
“I have always loved textiles,” she said.
Ms Caldwell runs her own business and it’s a patchwork quilt - as she dabbles in art, weaving, ceramics and commission works.
“I enjoy the diversity of practise - I like the variety - and it helps pay the bills,” she said.
The National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA) provide a platform to celebrate the innovation, diversity and ethical practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and fashion designers.
Ms Caldwell was nominated for three categories, and has progressed as a finalist in two: Fashion designer and textile design.
The champions will be named at a gala evening - already sold out - at Darwin on August 9.
“It’s unexpected but super exciting,” she said.
“This year there have been more and more nominees which has made it more competitive.”
A commitment clash will prevent Ms Caldwell from being at the ceremony in person as she is launching a community weaving book that same week at the Byron Writers’ Festival.
But it will be fingers-crossed all the same for the Bundjalung woman who thrives on championing First Nations arts and culture through her artistic innovation.
The fashion designer award winner will receive a 12-month business mentorship with Country Road. The program is designed to cover areas such as marketing, product development, sales, finance and sustainability.
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