Nominations are NOW CLOSED for the National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA) 2022.
Who will you nominate this year?
DAAFF’s Indigenous Fashion Projects (IFP) is thrilled to invite you to nominate for this year’s National Indigenous Fashion Awards!
Launched in 2020, the NIFA provides a vibrant and exciting platform to celebrate the innovation, diversity and ethical practices of Australia’s First Nations peoples in fashion and textiles, whilst contributing to the capacity building of the sector.
Recognising and showcasing excellence across six categories, the award ceremony is a unique opportunity for the Australian and international fashion community to connect to the world’s oldest living cultures.
The prestigious awards recognise excellence across several areas and include the:
Traditional Adornment Award
For example: ceremonial dilly bag, dancing belt, head-dress, possum skin cloak.
The award considers:
- Quality of construction
- Expression of living culture and traditional practice and storytelling
- Contribution to the recognition and preservation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture
Community Collaboration Award
The nominee is an Art Centre or the community, with the award recognising all parties to the collaboration.
For example: Past winners have included Bula’bula Arts x MAARA Collective, Anindilyakwa Arts x Anna Reynolds and Aly de Groot.
The award considers:
- Demonstration of collaborative process
- Demonstration of Indigenous agency in the collaboration process
- Cultural expression and storytelling
- Social and economic contribution to Indigenous communities
- Originality & Innovation
Business Achievement Award
For example: a label, business, Art Centre etc.
The award considers:
- Business innovation
- Product or service quality
- Environmental and social contribution
- Brand development and marketing
- Cultural expression and storytelling
- Impact on the Australian Indigenous fashion sector
Textile Design Award
For example: screen print and lino print designs, woven garments, innovative digital designs on fabrics etc.
The award considers:
- Excellence in textile design
- Innovation and originality
- Quality of craft; print, dye or surface ornamentation (where applicable)
- Cultural expression and storytelling
- Environmental and social contribution
Wearable Art Award
For example: a one off dress, a piece of jewellery.
The award considers:
- Design quality and originality
- Artistic merit
- Cultural expression and storytelling
- Quality of construction
- Wearability and/or performance potential
Fashion Designer Award
For example: past winners have included Julie Shaw of MAARA Collective, and Denni Francisco of Ngali.
The award considers:
- Excellence in fashion design
- Styling and product quality and originality
- Commercial capability (has created a minimum of two commercial collections)
- Cultural expression and storytelling
- Environmental and social contribution
Who can nominate and be nominated?
- Anyone can nominate! Note that you must have permission from the person/people you are nominating.
- You can also nominate yourself!
- The NIFA celebrates and recognises Indigenous Australians, and so nominees must be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage.
- You can nominate someone for multiple NIFA categories, ie. you may nominate them for the Fashion Designer Award AND the Business Achievement Award.
Nominate Here
Nominations are now closed. Shortlisted nominees will be notified in May.
To discuss your application, please contact dave@daaf.com.au
Take a look at last year’s showcase…
The National Indigenous Fashion Awards made waves across Australia with an intimate ceremony on Larrakia Country, and a national broadcast on NITV! Take a look as some of the beautiful moments from last year, now available to stream on SBS OnDemand!
And this year…
Save the Date | Wednesday Evening, 3 August 2022
More announcements to come…
See Backstage at Country to Couture 2023
Country to Couture returned to Larrakia Country this August with a record 22 collections across two sold out runways. Each year excitement builds and we get to celebrate and witness innovative collections that transform cultural storytelling and knowledge into...
NIFA 2023 Winners
The National indigenous fashion awards 2023 Winners Have Been Announced! Proudly presented by Indigenous Fashion Projects, meet the winners of the National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA) 2023! The NIFA 2023 ceremony took place this Wednesday evening, 9 August, under...
Country to Couture Show 2: Meet the Designers & Artists
Image | Miimi and Jiinda, Photo by Tom PatersonCountry to Couture returns to Larrakia Country with a record 22 collections across TWO different shows on Tuesday, 8 August, 2023. Get to know the amazing First Nations designers, Art Centres and artists who'll be part of...