Since 2020, Country Road has been the proud presenter of the NIFA Fashion Designer Award. The award recognises an individual designer of original fashion apparel who has excelled both creatively and commercially.

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, along with environmental and social contribution. 

The winner will receive a $5,000 prize or a 12-month industry mentorship with Country Road.

The mentorship program is tailored to the needs and focus areas defined by the mentee, covering areas such as marketing, product development, sales and finance and sustainability.

A $5,000 cash prize is offered as an alternative to the mentorship, where the mentee requires investment in business related travel, capital, or operational expenses.

Previous winners include: Julie Shaw of MAARA Collective, Denni Francisco of Ngali, Lillardia Briggs-Houston, and Simone Arnol.

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Named in honour of Franchesca Cubillo’s mother, the Cecilia Cubillo Young Achiever Award recognises an outstanding young person between the ages of 15-25 years, who is excelling in one or more of the areas of fashion, textile design, modelling, styling, wearable art, adornment and jewellery. 

The award considers: an individual journey, leadership and role modelling, along with a commitment to learning and developing practice.

The winner will receive a $3,000 cash prize.

Indigenous textile design holds deep meaning and continues to push the boundaries of contemporary First Nations cultures. It is a medium that offers freedom, where the use of the vibrant colours in textile design is represented in new expressions of old stories, which enable artists to stretch their imagination.

Presented by RMIT University, this award celebrates and recognises an individual designer of textiles, including woven, knitted, dyed, printed or surface ornamented constructions. For example: screen print and lino print designs, woven garments, innovative digital designs on fabrics.

The award considers: excellence in textile design, innovation and originality, quality of craft; print, dye or surface ornamentation (where applicable), cultural expression and storytelling, along with environmental and social contribution.

The winner will receive a customised Textile Design Professional Development undertaken with globally recognised RMIT School of Fashion and Textiles, ranked among the Business of Fashion’s ‘The Best Fashion Schools in the World’. The prize is tailored to the winning artist’s requirements.

Past winners include: Philomena Yeatman, Yarrabah Arts & Cultural Precinct and Rowena Morgan, Nagula Jarndu.

This award recognises strong, two-way relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and the textile and fashion industry, where social and economic benefits flow to communities, and where First Nations Peoples’ agency in the collaboration process is front and centre. The award celebrates effective and productive relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and the textile and fashion industry.

For example: the nominee is an Art Centre or the community, with the award recognising all parties to the collaboration.

The award considers: demonstration of collaborative process and Indigenous agency, cultural expression and storytelling, social and economic contribution to Indigenous communities, originality and innovation.

The winners will recieve a $10,000 cash prize to be split between each collaborator.  

Past winners include: Bula’bula Arts x MAARA Collective, Anindilyakwa Arts x Anna Reynolds, Aly de Groot, Mimili Maku Arts’ Linda Puna x Unreal Fur and Gapuwiyak Culture & Arts X Aly de Groot.

Recognising an individual designer for the creation of a single (not a collection) worn item of clothing, accessory or piece of jewellery that demonstrates excellence in design, craft, cultural and artistic expression.

The award considers: design quality, originality and artistic merit, cultural expression and storytelling, quality of construction, wearability and/or performance potential, as well as environmental and social contribution.

Prize: The winning artist will receive a $5000 cash prize from Eastland.

Past winners include: Lillardia Briggs-Houston, Ngarru Miimi and Rhonda Sharpe, Yarrenyty Arltere Artists.

This award recognises an individual or group, and celebrates leadership in an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business achieving both creative and commercial success in textiles and fashion, and positively impacting the Indigenous fashion sector. For example: a label, business, or Art Centre. 

The award considers: business innovation, product or service quality, environmental and social contribution, brand development and marketing, cultural expression and storytelling, and impact on the Australian Indigenous fashion sector. 

The prize: The winner of the Business Achievement Award will receive a $5000 cash prize to support them in taking their next step in business.

Past winners include: Laura Thompson – Clothing the Gaps, Denni Francisco – Ngali, and Ikuntji Artists.