Nominations are NOW OPEN for the National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA) 2021
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:
- Cultural Adornment and Wearable Art Award
- Textile Design Award
- Fashion Design Award
- Social and Environmental Contribution Award
- Community Collaboration Award
- Special Recognition Award

Nominate Here
We warmly invite you to make your NIFA 2021 nomination via the online form.
Nominations will close COB Monday 31 May 2021, and shortlisted nominees will be notified in June.
To discuss your application, please contact dave@daaf.com.au
Take a look at last year’s showcase…
As you know, 2020 was no usual year. In the face of the global pandemic, the inaugural National Indigenous Fashion Awards launched with a national broadcast on NITV!
More than 36,000 viewers have tuned in watch the awards! Take a look as some of the beautiful moments from last year.

And this year…
The NIFA will make it’s debut as a physical event alongside the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair and Country to Couture in the NT in August! Thanks to our partners at NITV, those of you unable to make the journey can also tune in via broadcast!
Save the Date | Tuesday Evening, 3 August 2021
More announcements to come…
Image Credits | 1) Peggy Griffiths, Legacy Dress, Emu Feather Bag by Gail Manderson, model Billie-Jean Hamlet, photo by Georges Antoni for marie claire. 2) Winner of the 2020 Fashion Design NIFA, Julie Shaw with models Charlee Fraser and Billie-Jean Hamlet, wearing MAARA Collective. Photo by Georges Antoni for marie claire. 3) NITV Live Facebook broadcast. 4) Arawunikiri, A Double Sided Spear used in ceremony, textile design by Bede Tungutulum, model Charlee Fraser, photo by Georges Antoni for marie claire.
Congratulations to the NIFA 2020 Winners!
Image: NITV Live Facebook broadcast by Nina Fitzgerald and Ellie MeyerThe Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation (DAAFF) is thrilled to announce the winners for this year's inaugural National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA). The Inaugural National Indigenous Fashion...
Introducing the National Indigenous Fashion Awards
Image: Featured from the 2019 From Country to Couture Runway, Maara Collective X Bula’bula Arts collaboration. Photo by Dylan Buckee.By Nina Fitzgerald and Ellie Meyer The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation (DAAFF) is launching the inaugural National Indigenous...
Fashion Design Award
Words by Nina Fitzgerald and Ellie Meyer Image: Ngali's Merendari Silk Dress. Photo courtesy of Denni Francisco.NIFA | Fashion Design Award We now come to the last blog in our series leading up to the inaugural NIFAs, delving into each of the six award categories, and...




