By C. Perera, JadeTimes News
A total of 20 collections were showcased across two sold out runway shows on Larrakia Country, spotlighting the skills of both emerging and established Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander designers. The vibrant shows featured innovative collections from remote communities across Australia and unique collaborations between Indigenous communities and well known Australian labels, offering the audience a journey from Country to couture.
Jessica Mauboy, an award winning performer and Community Ambassador for the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation, expressed her emotional connection after attending her second Country to Couture show on Thursday evening. “As a Kuku Yalanji and Wakaman woman and a fashion enthusiast, it was a delight to witness the industry come together on Larrakia Country for the Country to Couture shows,” said Mauboy. “Celebrating the exceptional talent of First Nations designers and artists, who seamlessly blended color, creativity, and culture into their work, creating yet another unforgettable experience.”
The theme of the first show, "Underfire: Hear Our Voice," encouraged activism and expression, inspiring designers to "keep the fire burning" through First Nations fashion, revealing the power of traditional materials. The second show, "Boundless: Always Was, Always Will Be," honored cultural stories, deep connections, and country.
Samala Thakialee Cronin, founder and designer of the label MumRed and a Woppaburra woman, emphasized that participating in Country to Couture is about celebrating matriarchy and reclaiming sovereignty. "It's bright, it's colorful, it's bold, it's full of textures, and it's truly an embodiment of country," she shared with NITV. Like many designers on the runway, Cronin's work emphasizes a connection to Country, utilizing natural and recycled materials.
Her piece, "Fractured Country," is a reflection of the land and its fractures. "Everything that isn’t natural has been recycled or upcycled from old fabrics, old jewelry, and then combined with traditional resources such as possum fur, kangaroo feathers, quills, and shells," she explained. "It's this incredible fusion of culture and color."
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