Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) has confirmed a lineup of 15 fashion designers and wearable art makers, as it marks a decade in operation.
CIAF’s fashion performance curator Lynelle Flinders said the organisation had received an unprecedented response from designers to participate following a call out issued in January 2023. The selected designers have been sourced from across Queensland to tackle the theme 'Woven'.
“From Quandamooka Country in southeast Queensland to the Cape and Torres Strait, we are pleased to announce a stellar line up designers who will individually express the ‘Woven’ theme in what will be a collectively powerful and engaging showcase,” Flinders said.
Flinders has been involved in CIAF from the start, the first seven years of which she created and presented designer collections before taking up the curatorial lead in 2021. Flinders works in partnership with choreographer Hans Ahwang to create a performance blending fashion with a culturally immersive experience.
“CIAF’s fashion performance has and continues to be, life changing. What started as a creative expression has developed into a mentorship role where I can support other First Nation artists progress in their journey and encourage them to follow their dreams,” Flinders said.
Participating designers in 2023 include the collaborative partnership of Holly McInnes and Simone Arnol from Yarrabah’s Gunggandji Country, Delvene Cockatoo-Collins from Quandamooka Country and Emily Beckley from the Torres Strait Islands. After learning of her successful bid to present a collaborative collection with Arnol in this year’s CIAF fashion performance, McInnes said she was “really excited”.
McInnes and Arnol, an experienced multi-disciplinary artist and fashion designer, will create four looks each to comprise their ‘Guyu, Lemon & Rice’ collection.
“Guyu, the Gunggandji word for fish, along with lemon and rice is our interpretation of the team because the three elements together make a meal that weaves people and families together,” McInness said.
From her home on Horn Island (Ngurupai), Meriam-Samsep and Panai of Maguiag women, Emily Beckley said she is thrilled to be a part of CIAF’s fashion performance.
“This platform enables Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders like me to showcase our talents, lifestyle, and culture to a wider audience. Together we can make an impact in a positive way,” Beckley said.
While an artist for over 40 years with two collections in the National Gallery of Australia, Beckley said she is still a relative newcomer to the fashion industry with five years of experience.
For CIAF’s 2023 Woven fashion performance Beckley will creative eight looks that will draw inspiration from her surroundings and traditional practices.
“My collection will feature the geometric patterns and imagery of Mer (Murray Island) bridal pendants to tell an origin story of turtles, fish, pearls and so on. My art is concerned with reviving and maintaining cultural practices,” she said.
Also presenting in 2023 is Minjerribah-North Stradbroke Island (Quandamooka Country) artist Delvene Cockatoo-Collins who in 2022 took a giant leap to show her first ever fashion collection in the round at Tanks Arts Centre for CIAF’s ‘Master of Country’ performance.
Since CIAF 2022, Cockatoo-Collins has gone on to create collections for Melbourne Fashion Week’s Mob in Fashion (currently on static display in Melbourne) and this month’s Black, Bold & Beautiful at Brisbane Convention Centre. A proud North Stradbroke artist who has operated her own shop and gallery for the 3 past 13 years, Cockatoo-Collins said participating in CIAF is something she had always wanted to do but had never felt ready.
“It wasn’t until a visit from the CIAF team whose encouragement convinced me to elevate my work to take part. And I am so glad I did. I really enjoyed the process and CIAF is a great space. It’s very liberating. Before then I had never really had a platform to explore,” she said.
Cockatoo-Collins said her ‘Woven’ collection will feature hand-dyed and printed cotton from the St George area and traditionally woven articles and detailing inspired by her grandmother’s words, “Dillybag & Mat Making as Granny Did”.
“Dated March 1974, this is a statement that I found among Nan’s photos and letters. There is also the actual dillybag woven by my grandmother’s grandmother using traditional weaving techniques – now on display in North Stradbroke Museum after it was returned in 2021,” she said.
From screen printed fabrics to accessories, Cockatoo-Collins said she is planning to create between five and 10 complete looks for her 2023 collection.
The successful designers showcasing their collections in 2023 are Delvene Cockatoo Collins, Fiona Wirrer-George Oochunyung, Deadly Weavers- Felicity Chapman, Yarrabah Arts & Cultural Precinct, Robert Pau, Simone Arnol & Holly McInnes, Emily Beckley, Bana Yirriji & Shannon Brett, TAFE Cultural Arts, Sown in Time by Lynelle Flinders, Jedess Hudson, Bernard Singleton, Elverina Johnson – Paperbark Arts, Mumgarr by Chantel 4 Henley, and Hans Ahwang.