Ancient Crafts Honored at Australia’s National Indigenous Fashion Awards

SYDNEY — Australia’s burgeoning First Nations fashion sector was celebrated Wednesday at the fifth annual National Indigenous Design Awards. 

An initiative of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation’s Indigenous Fashion Projects arm, with support from the Northern Territory Government, the 2024 awards were revealed at an event in Darwin, Northern Territory, during the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair. There were winners across seven categories, determined by an Indigenous-led judging panel of communications specialist Yatu Widders-Hunt, veteran model Elaine George and artist Lisa Waup, along with Nimmi Premaratne, the head of design for womenswear at Australian fashion retailer Country Road, a partner of the event.  

Simone Arnol won the Fashion Designer of the Year award. A Gunggandji Yarrabah designer and curator who uses traditional dye techniques, Arnol will receive a 12-month business mentorship with Country Road. 

The Textile Design Award was won by Jay Jurrupula Rostron, a Kune, Dalabon and Rembarrngga woman from the Barappa clan who works with the Bábbarra Women’s Centre in Maningrida, Northern Territory. Joining her on stage to receive her award was her daughter Cindy Rostron, now an established model represented by Chadwick Models. 

The Traditional Adornment Award was won by Gunggandji master weaver Philomena Yeatman from the Yarrabah Arts & Cultural Precinct in Yarrabah, Queensland.

The Wearable Art Award was won by Wiradjuri, Gangulu, Yorta Yorta multidisciplinary artist and fashion designer Lillardia Briggs-Houston, who is based in Narrandera, New South Wales. The Community Collaboration Award went to Gumbaynggirr designer Melissa Greenwood of the Miimi & Jiinda fashion label and Unreal Fur founder Gilat Shani, who are located in Nambucca Heads, New South Wales and Melbourne, Victoria, respectively. The Business Achievement Award was won by Melbourne-based Wiradjuri designer Denni Francisco of the Ngali label.

The inaugural Cecilia Cubillo Young Achiever Award — which recognizes outstanding emerging talent in fashion, textile design, modeling, styling, wearable art, adornment or jewelry — was won by Walmajarri, Gooniyandi, Bunuba and Martu model Kahlia Rogers from Broome and Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia.

“It’s been an incredible evening celebrating our NIFA winners and nominees” said Indigenous Fashion projects manager Michelle Maynard. “This talented group continues to inspire us, telling their stories and their histories of a deep connection to country through beautiful designs.”