The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation (DAAFF) has launched the first National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA).
The awards celebrate and recognise the innovation, creativity, diversity and ethical practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, fashion designers, stylists, models, creative producers and artistic directors.
The awards will be broadcast on NITV social channels on August 5 and build on DAAFFs Country to Couture fashion showcase, which has been running for four years.
DAAFF chair Franchesca Cubillo said that the organisation is thrilled to introduce the awards to the industry.
"The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation is so proud to provide vibrant platforms to support Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander artists and Art Centres.
"Our fashion programs are having an incredible impact on the Indigenous art sector and this is an exciting time for the industry.
"DAAFF has been in deep converation with Indigenous fashion creatives to develop the concept of the National Aboriginal Fashion Awards, and we are now so excited to present it in 2020.
"This award will showcase talented Indigenous Australian artists, and share their amazing fashion and textile designs to the world," she said.
The NIFAs are made up of six categories that have been developed with key industry stakeholders.
The prizes for each category are designed to ensure the sustainable growth of First Nations fashion creatives and include opportunities for small business development, industry mentoring, financial support and promotion by major public institutions and key fashion media.
The categories are; Cultural Adornment and Wearable Art; Textile Design; Community Collaboration; Special Recognition; Environmental and Social Contribution; and, Fashion Design.
In its inaugural year, the NIFAs have seen over 30 designer and artist nominations from the textiles and fashion design community.
The NIFAs are supported by the Northern Territory Government.
The nominees are:
THE CULTURAL ADORNMENT AND WEARABLE ART AWARD
Recognises worn items, created as fine or expressive art, used to define or express culture.
- LISA WAUP
- LILLARDYA ALLIRRA BRIGGS-HOUSTON
- PEGGY GRIFFITHS
- JAN GRIFFITHS
- DEBRA BEALE
THE TEXTILE DESIGN AWARD
Includes designs of woven, knitted or other textile constructions, as well as dyed, printed or surface ornamented textiles.
- LILLARDYA ALLIRRA BRIGGS-HOUSTON
- RUKAJI DESIGNS
- KIEREN KARRITPUL
- DYMPHNA KERINAUIA, KAYE BROWN, MICHELLE WOODY, NINA LYDWINA PURUNTATAMERI, CORNELIA TIPUAMANTUMIRRI, AND BERNADETTE MUNGATOPI
- IKUNTJI ARTISTS
- SELINA NADJOWH
THE COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AWARD
Recognition of effective and productive relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and the textile and fashion industry.
- JULIE SHAW OF MAARA COLLECTIVE WITH BULA'BULA ABORIGINAL CORPORATION
- HOPE VALE ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTRE WITH QUT
- PEOPLE, CULTURE & COUNTRY, A QLD STATE SCHOOLS ART PROJECT
- BABBARRA WOMEN’S CENTRE WITH PUBLISHER TEXTILES
- LISA GORMAN (GORMAN) AND TOMMY MAY, SONIA KURARRA, DAISY JAPULIJA, NADA RAWLINS, LISA UHL FROM MANGKAJA ARTS
- MARNIN STUDIO WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTRE WITH DESIGN WITHIN COUNTRY
- IKUNTJI ARTISTS WITH MAGPIE GOOSE
- KAIELA ARTS ARTISTS WITH SPACECRAFT STUDIO
- TENNANT CREEK AUNTIES FOR RISE-NGURRAJUTA
THE SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
For a group, organisation, or individual that has shown exceptional contribution to the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander textiles and fashion.
- BEDE TUNGUTALUM
- LENORE DEMBSKI FOR PAPERBARK WOMAN
- PERINA DRUMMOND FOR JIRA MODELS
- GRACE LILLIAN LEE
- SELINA NADJOWH FOR INJALAK ARTS
THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION AWARD
Excellence and leadership in environmental and social development understanding, and practice in relation to textiles and fashion.
- NINTI ONE LIMITED
- ANINDILYAKWA ARTS FOR BUSH DYE
- LIANDRA GAYKAMANGU FOR LIANDRA SWIM
- PERINA DRUMMOND FOR JIRA MODELS
THE FASHION DESIGN AWARD
Recognises a commercial fashion label with a minimum of two collections of original design of clothing, jewellery or accessories.
- LIANDRA SWIM
- MAARA COLLECTIVE
- NGALI
- MURRII QUU COUTURE