ANNOUNCING THE NOMINEES FOR THE 2021 NATIONAL INDIGENOUS FASHION AWARDS!

Returning for the second year, the NIFA has seen over 30 designer and artist nominations from the textiles and fashion design  community, and we’re thrilled with the calibre of talent and innovation across each of the six award categories.

Meet your NIFA Nominees for 2021!

1. CULTURAL ADORNMENT AND WEARABLE ART

Worn items that are created as fine or expressive art and that are used to define or express culture.

• Cassie Leatham – Wild Blak Arts
• Elisa Jane Carmichael 
• Krystal Hurst – Gillawarra Arts
• Lillardia Briggs – Houston – Ngarru Miimi
• Lydia Baker – Bush Magic Metal
• Michelle Woody Minnapinni and Rachel Freddy Puruntatameri – Jilamara Arts and Crafts Association
• Paul McCann
• Rhonda Sharpe – Yarrenyty Arltere Artists
• Yvonne Odegaard – Moydra Designs 

Dillybag Shirt by Rhonda Sharpe, Model Billie-Jean Hamlet, Photo by Max Doyle, Creative direction by Rhys Ripper for The Guardian Australia, photo courtesy of Yarrenyty Arltere Artists.

2. TEXTILE DESIGN

Includes designs of woven, knitted or other textile constructions as well as dyed, printed or surface ornamented textiles.

• Alice Nampitjinpa Dixon – Ikuntji Artists
• Deborah Wurrkidj – Bábbarra Women’s Centre
• Eunice Napanangka Jack – Ikuntji Artists
• Francoise Lane – Indij Design
• Keturah Zimran – Ikuntji Artists
• Lillardia Briggs-Houston – Ngarru Miimi
• Mavis Nampitjinpa Marks – Ikuntji Artists
• Merrepen Art Centre
• Rhonda Sharpe – Yarrenyty Arltere Artists
• Wayne Connolly – Yarrabah Art Centre

‘Women’s Business’ Fabric, Mavis Nampitjinpa Marks from Ikuntji Artists, Black Tuscany Linen, Photo by Leanne Tims, Design Canberra.

3. FASHION DESIGN

A commercial fashion label with a minimum of 2 collections of original design of clothing, jewellery or accessories.

• Denni Francisco – Ngali
• Nancy Pattison – Indii Swimwear
• Natalie Cunningham – Native Swimwear

Indii Swimwear by Nancy Pattison, IFP Runway Afterpay Australian Fashion Week, 2021, photo by Jack Steel

4. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION

Excellence and leadership in environmental and social development understanding, and practice in relation to textiles and fashion.

• Annabel Amagula – Anindilyakwa Arts
• Liandra Gaykamangu – Liandra Swim
• Mylene Holroyd – Pormpuraaw Art & Culture featuring Simone Arnol designs

Liandra Swim by Liandra Gaykamangu, Community Collection 2021, Model Imatakopate Gina, Photo by Tim Henry 

5. COMMUNITY COLLABORATION

Recognition of effective and productive relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and the textile and fashion industry.

• Anindilyakwa Arts with Dr Aly de Groot and Anna Reynolds
• Hope Vale x QUT fashion collaboration – Wuwu (Soul) collection
• Ikuntji Artists x Publisher Textiles
• Wayne Quilliam with J’Aton and KMpiumini

Wayne Quilliam, Kilpanie (Winter), photo by Lorenzo Palizzolo

6. SPECIAL RECOGNITION

For a group, organisation, or individual that has shown exceptional contribution to the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander textiles and fashion.

• Bima Wear
• Yarrenyty Arltere Artists

Yarrenyty Arltere Artists, Trudy Inkamala with No Waste dliiybag, Photo by Sophie Wallace

CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF OUR INCREDIBLE NOMINEES!

We look forward to sharing their stories and celebrating in person at the NIFA ceremony in Darwin on the 3 August. NITV will once again be broadcasting the event – stay tuned!