Heritage in Motion | Celebrating Indigenous Creativity at Country to Couture and NIFA 2025
In 2025, Country to Couture marked its 10-year milestone on Larrakia Country: an artistic triumph that transformed a once-niche runway into a powerhouse of First Nations fashion innovation.
Across the decade, this event has grown from the modest platforms of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair to the national stage, becoming a cultural flagship where community, tradition, and couture converge.
The 2025 edition featured 23 collections grounded in cultural storytelling, eco-conscious practices, and bold sartorial visions. Highlights included captivating collaborations like Mim - a Larrakia, Wardaman, and Karajarri woman - working with Ukrainian designer Tatiana on “Sunset Healing,” a collection inspired by Darwin’s sunsets and deeply rooted in themes of cultural connection and emotional harmonies.
Sunset Healing - Mim Mim Design x Tatia
Equally compelling was KingKing Creative, led by Gurindji Waanyi sisters Sarrita and Tarisse, whose collection “Maju Karlaj” flowed from childhood memories and Territory landscapes into inclusive, everyday Indigenous fashion designed with affordability and body diversity in mind.
Maju Karlaj - King King Creative
Other remarkable participants included art-centre collaborations and designers like:
Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre with “Murrgan”,
Tjarlirli & Kaltukatjara Art with “Pirriya”,
EleRaze Creatives (Sonya Coleman, Sonearae & Tallulah Bilney) with “Tjindu” (Sun),
Mowanjum Arts & Cultural Centre × Milpali with “Reclaiming Country”,
Sandra Delaney & Shara Delaney, Salt Water Murris Quandamooka with “Tabilbahn Yunggulba’”(Saltwater Tidal),
Simone Arnol with “Butterfly Kisses”.
Each artist wove motifs of Country, memory, and environmental guardianship into stunning textile narratives, reminding us that fashion can be a vessel for cultural language and creative sovereignty.
Spotlight on the 2025 National Indigenous Fashion Awards
Soon after Country to Couture, the National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA) celebrated a curated list of trailblazers shaping the future of Indigenous fashion on a national stage.
Here are the winners who brought creativity, tradition, and innovation brilliantly to the forefront:
Fashion Designer of the Year: Clair Helen Parker (Tiwi woman, based in Boorloo/Perth), honoured for her brand Clair Helen, which fuses Indigenous symbolism, hand-finished details, and sustainability into bold, contemporary wearable art. Her award also comes with a mentorship with Country Road, setting the stage for amplified industry impact.
Textile Design Award: Rhonda Sharpe in partnership with Yarrenyty Arltere Artists, recognised for outstanding creative textile work.
Traditional Adornment Award: Rena Ngalinggama Guyula, representing Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts (Arnhem Land), celebrated for excellence in traditional adornment.
Wearable Art Award: Cleonie Quayle, for her sculptural yet wearable creations rooted in Indigenous identity.
Community Collaboration Award: Jilamara Arts and Crafts Association × Tiwi Artists, emblematic of community-driven fashion and collective artistry.
Business Achievement Award: Miimi & Jiinda, led by Melissa Greenwood, honoured for successfully bridging creative strength with commercial achievement.
Cecilia Cubillo Young Achiever Award: Cindy Rostron, recognised for her emerging leadership and contribution to Indigenous fashion innovation.
Together, these winners represent a rich spectrum: from creative individualism to sustainable craftsmanship, and cultural preservation to entrepreneurial success.
Generations, Country, Couture: What This Moment Means
A Confluence of Vision and Heritage
This year’s Country to Couture and NIFA achievements underscore how fashion can be both a cultural beacon and an economic force.
Through runway expressions and award-winning innovation, First Nations designers are reclaiming agency, visibility, and legacy.
Community as Catalyst
Designers rooted in remote and urban communities alike are translating ancestral stories into contemporary aesthetics - ensuring fashion remains a living, evolving expression of Indigenous identity.
Creativity with Purpose
With themes like sustainability, accessibility, and cultural continuity, these design platforms are forging a roadmap for a fashion industry that honours both the people and the planet.
From the fiery sunsets of Darwin to the runways of Australia’s cities - and into boardrooms and mentorships - Indigenous fashion is blazing a path of creativity, resilience, and expression. Celebrating a decade of Country to Couture alongside the latest NIFA laureates, this moment is not just a milestone, it is a legacy in motion.
Yarrabah Arts & Cultural Precinct