Be part of the 11th Country to Couture in 2026.
Applications Have Closed.
Photo by Benjamin Warlngundu Ellis
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Be part of a legacy of cultural integrity, artistic innovation, and community empowerment.
Where First Nations textiles, fashion and art collide in a powerful showcase of creativity from across Australia.
Country to Couture is an empowering community celebration of storytelling through contemporary designs, grounded in over 60,000 years of ancient cultures.
The largest showcase of First Nations fashion in Australia, Country to Couture recently celebrated a 10 year milestone, having been presented alongside the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) since 2016. Embodying a cultural revolution that continues to redefine Australian fashion, it has become a highlight on the fashion calendar and has launched the careers of First Nations designers, artists, models and creatives.
Indigenous Fashion Projects (IFP) are excited to announce that applications will open on Monday, 13 October 2025, to be part of the Country to Couture 2026 showcase in August!
Applications close 5.00pm ACST, 10 November 2025.
Need help preparing your application? Have questions? Take a read of our Application Guide, and join one of two Online Information Sessions, 29 October and 5 November 2025.
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What We’re Looking For
We acknowledge that not every prompt will apply to every application but here is a guide of what the assessment panel will consider:
Innovation
- Fashion designs and techniques
- Textile design and fabric creation techniques
- Originality
- Concept and incorporation of cultural content
Quality
- Garment construction and finish
- Fabric and other materials used, textile design techniques (ie printing, dying, weaving)
- Ability to produce collection to runway standard
- Cohesive collection presentation
Cultural Capability & Indigenous Agency
- Indigenous agency and ethical practices at every stage of collection development with consideration of ICIP
- Appropriate cultural authority to produce and present garments and accessories
- Collaborative practise incorporates appropriate acknowledgements and financial return to Indigenous partners
Viability & Sustainability
- Capacity to produce the collection as proposed within timeframes required
- Consideration of environmental and sustainable practises in sourcing, printing and manufacturing of garments
- Ethical practises and values at all stages of production
- Evidence of previous production experience, or a clear plan and partnerships to produce the collection
Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre, Murrgan, Country to Couture, 2025 photo by Dylan Buckee
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Who Can Apply?
- Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander independent designers, artists, art collectives and Art Centres.
- Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island independent designers, artists, collectives and Art Centres in ethical collaborations with non-Indigenous designers/labels where there is full agency and involvement of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants in the design process.
**Please note
Collaborations with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander artists and their artwork must provide a licencing agreement as evidence of the commissioning process.
Useful Links:
– Indigenous Fashion Projects – Learning Centre
– Arts Law – Legal Resources
– Copyright Agency
– IP Australia – Indigenous Knowledge
– Indigenous Art Code
– NAVA – Code of Practice for Visual Arts, Craft and Design
Nangarri Designs by Rowena Morgan, 2025, photo by Dylan Buckee
Yanggurdi, photo by Marley Morgan
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Read the Application Guide
Here are some tips on submitting a successful application and communicating your concept and designs.
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Join an Online Information Session
A chance to connect with the Indigenous Fashion Projects Team, learn more about the application process and Country to Couture, and ask all your questions!
Session 1 | 29 October 2025
Session 2 | 5 November 2025
Register below.
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Apply Here
Country to Couture receives an increasing number of applications each year but capacity is limited so we cannot guarantee everyone a place in our showcase. If you are not selected this year, we encourage you to participate in other opportunities facilitated by IFP and to reapply in future.
Our team are here to support you. If you have any trouble completing this form please reach out to us on c2c@daaf.com.au or 08 8981 0576, and we will help you complete the expression of interest.
We also reccomend you have a read of our Application Guide, and join one of two Online Information Sessions, 29 October and 5 November, 2025.
Applications closed Monday, 10 November 2025.
SAVE THE DATE
Country to Couture 2026 will return to Larrakia Country, August 2026, alongside the renowned National Indigenous Fashion Awards and the 20th Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair.
More details and ticket sales to be announced.
Photo by Dylan Buckee