Congratulations To The Nominees Of The Inaugural National Indigenous Fashion Awards

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, Australia is home to some phenomenal fashion talent. Case in point: the shortlist of nominees for this year’s inaugural National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA), announced today.

The awards, which were born out of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair and are being supported by marie claire, are a celebration of the innovation, diversity and ethical work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and fashion designers. And there’s a hell of a lot to celebrate.

Thirty-three designers have been nominated across six different categories. “The NIFA presents an amazing opportunity for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to come together to celebrate the rich heritage and vibrant culture of our First Nations peoples through fashion and textiles,” says Claire Summers, Foundation Executive Director.

The winners will be chosen by an esteemed judging panel – including Yatu Widders Hunt of Aus Indigenous Fashion, Ursula Raymond of the Northern Territory Treaty Commission, Leila Naja Hibri of the Australian Fashion Council and Maria Rinaldi-Cant of Country Road – and are set to be announced on August 5 in a live stream on NITV’s social media channels.