Country to Couture and National Indigenous Fashion Awards return to Darwin
Records are set to be broken on the Darwin runway as Country to Couture and the National Indigenous Fashion Awards return to the Top End.
Northern Territory
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A record-breaking selection of designs are set to hit the Darwin runway at Country to Couture as more than 60 nominees are revealed for the 2023 National Indigenous Fashion Awards.
The Indigenous Fashion Projects events will launch alongside the Darwin Aboriginal Arts Fair program, where Territorians are invited to attend the opening ceremony for the first time.
Musical icon Jessica Mauboy said she was excited to shine a spotlight on the program as the DAAF Foundation community ambassador.
“I am proud... for the chance to return home to Darwin to experience the August events in person and meet with First Nations designers, artists and Art Centres,” she said.
East Arrernte artists and DAAF Foundation artistic director Shilo McNamee said First Nations fashion was fast becoming a global sensation with NIFA and Country to Couture propelling designers to “new heights”.
“Both are wonderful platforms that delight audiences, and see First Nations fashion and textile
designers – at all levels of career development – experience the industry first-hand,” she said.
“These are special fashion events steeped in over 60,000 years of culture and heritage, but also showcase some of the most contemporary designs in the country.”
Designers have the chance to win national recognition across six categories with cash prizes of up to $10,000, business mentorships or professional development up for grabs.
Country Road sponsors the Fashion Designer Award and offers a 12-month mentorship to the category winner.
Head of design for womenswear Nimmi Premaratne said the brand would develop a “long-term relationship built on listening, understanding, and sharing” with the 2023 winner.
“Our mentorship caters to the individual needs of the designer, and can include areas such as product development, marketing, sales and more,” she said.
Other categories include the Traditional Adornment, Community Collaboration, Business Achievement, Textile Design and Wearable Art Awards.
Models will hit the runway during Country to Couture from 5pm August 8, with the 2023 NIFA winners announced the following day from 7pm-8.30pm.
DAAF’s first publicly accessible opening ceremony for its art exhibition takes place at 5.30pm August 10.
The exhibition at the Darwin Convention Centre will showcase pieces from more than 70 Art Centres from across the country with all revenue going directly into the artists’ and communities’ pockets.
The Fair will be open until August 13, with an online event on August 11.
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