Image | (left to right) Cindy Rostron, Cinella Rostron, and Kiani Thompson,wear design Young Daluk & Jemimah, from Babbarra Women’s Centre, Photo by Alana Holmberg

Country to Couture returns to Larrakia Country with a record 22 collections across TWO different shows on Tuesday, 8 August, 2023! 

Indigenous Fashion Projects (IFP) is thrilled to announce the biggest Country to Couture fashion showcase to date! Held alongside DAAF each year since 2016, the 8th Country to Couture is set to return to the Darwin Convention Centre on Tuesday evening, 8 August 2023.

Proudly supported by the Northern Territory Government and Country Road, Country to Couture is where First Nations textiles and fashion collide in a colourful showcase of wearable art. A celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander textiles and fashion design, Country to Couture is a contemporary way of cultural storytelling, and sharing knowledge. DAAF Foundation’s own Artistic Director, Eastern Arrernte woman Shilo McNamee will once again be leading the creative direction, and we can’t wait for you to see what’s coming!

“We are so excited to break records this year with the number of First Nations fashion designers involved in IFP’s Country to Couture. The event is recognised globally and in Australia’s Indigenous communities for celebrating and propelling designers to new heights, while maintaining an authentic and grassroots feel… These events are steeped in over 60,000 years of culture and heritage, but also showcase some of the most contemporary designs in the country.” – Shilo McNamee, Artistic Director, DAAF Foundation

The high energy runways will present innovative collections from Indigenous designers and artists across Australia, as well as unique collaborations between Indigenous communities and well-known Australian labels.

This year, we have a whopping 22 collections – so get ready to remember these names and snap up your tickets before they sell out!

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Show 1:

• Bábbarra Women’s Centre, with Raw Cloth, Jemimah Jemimah, Young Daluk, and The Social Studio, ‘Daluk’
• DandalooSu, by Su Lousick, ‘Ode to The Song, Why I Wear Black, by Johnny Cash’
• Injalak Arts Centre, ‘Rarrk’
• JAG X Gaawaa Miyay (Lucy Simpson), ‘Of Place’
• Jedindi, by Jedess Hudson, ‘Bijarril: To Dream’
• Nagula Jarndu, ‘Balu Burugun’ (Plants From Country)
• Numus Designs, by Naomy Briston, ‘Larrakia Gulumoerrgin Seasons’
• Datlarwa Designs, by Chantelle Amos x Yvonne Odegaard, ‘Gun-gwa Gwoyelwa Gulumoerrgin (This is Larrakia Country)’
• Yarrabah Arts & Cultural Precinct, ‘Immersion’
• Yarrenyty Arltere Artists, ‘Tharrama’ (Smile)
• Yinjaa-Barni Art, ‘JinaJina’

Images | 1) Hayley Mulardy in Tartaku (bush coconut) silk hat and fabric, Nagula Jarndu, Photographer Michael Torres. 2) Pepe Havea in JinaJina, Yinjaa-Barni Art, Photo by Micaela Mandorff. 3) Shantai Wilson in design by Babbarra Women’s Centre x Raw Cloth, Photo by Alana Holmberg. 4) Progress photo from ‘Of Place’, by JAG x Lucy Simpson.

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Show 2:

• Anindilyakwa Arts, ‘Bush Dye Capsule Collection’
• Ardi’ol Arts, ‘Bardi Way’
• Gwarli Nangala, by Joanne Gwarli Nangala, ‘Gwarli Nangala’
• Hope Vale Art & Culture Centre x QUT, ‘Gumbiil, String, The Ties That Bind us Together’
• Ikuntji Artists, ‘lkuntji Collection’
• Iltja Ntjarra Art Centre, ‘Tnuntha nurnakanha’ (Our Animals)
• Lillardia Briggs-Houston, ‘Walumarra’
• Miimi & Jiinda, by Melissa Greenwood and Lauren Jarrett, ‘Burraaba’ (Unearth)
• Tiwi Designs x Ossom, ‘Flow and Go’
• Wendy Hubert x Nancybird in Collaboration with Juluwarlu Art Group
• Yapa Mali, by Maddy Hodgetts, ‘Yapa Mali’

Images | 1) Yapa Mali by Maddyy Hodgetts, Photo courtesy of Garuwa. 2) Cassie Puruntatameri in design by Lillardia Briggs-Houston, Photo by Marley Morgan. 3) Miimi & Jiinda, photo by Tom Paterson. 4) Jackets modelled by Yindjibarndi artists and Juluwarlu team, Juluwarlu Art Group, 2023, Photo by James Evans.

Selling Fast!

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Country to Couture

Venue: Darwin Convention Centre, Exhibition Hall 1, 10 Stokes Hill Road, Darwin, NT, 0800

Tickets: $40-$85 via Darwin Festival

Show 1: 5.00 pm – Tuesday 8 August 2023
Show 2: 8.00 pm – Tuesday 8 August 2023

Doors open 30 mins before the show, each show duration 1 hour, 15 mins. Each show presents different collections.