The National Indigenous Fashion Awards
- Words by Peppermint
By slowing down and celebrating clothes as culture, there’s a lot we can learn and celebrate about Indigenous designers and the work they do.
The introduction of the National Indigenous Fashion Awards this year takes us one step closer to putting these talented artists, deservedly, on the map. Broadcasted live via NITV’s social media earlier this evening, the event showcased collections and designs from leading and emerging First Nations artists, and celebrated their innovation, diversity and ethical practices. The inaugural event saw 33 designers and artists nominated across six categories.
Fashion is a medium which transcends cultural boundaries, and can be the vehicle to bring people together to celebrate Australia’s rich heritage and vibrant cultures.
Julie Shaw of MAARA Collective was the big winner of the night, picking up both the Fashion Design Award and the Community Collaboration Award for her work with Mary Dhapalany Mangul, Margaret Djarbaalabal Malibirr and Evonne Muyuyngu of Bula’bula Art. The judges spoke highly of her “optimistic use of colour” and the process of cultural knowledge sharing evident within her collections.
IMAGE: IDENTITY COLLECTION BY MAARA COLLECTIVE. PHOTO BY CYBELE MALINOWSKI.
Up against some strong competition, Peggy Griffiths from Waringarri Aboriginal Arts was awarded the Cultural Adornment and Wearable Art Award for her Legacy Dress and praised for her strong cultural leadership and mentorship. The Textile Design Award was presented to Kieren Karritpul with judges also commending him for his “ability to tell stories through textiles and bring about a truly emotional experience”.
IMAGE: PEGGY GRIFFITHS AND THE LEGACY DRESS. PHOTO COURTESY OF GRACE LILLIAN LEE AND CHRIS BAKER.
IMAGE: BEDE TUNGUTALUM SHOWCASE AT 2019 COUNTRY TO COUTURE. PHOTO BY DYLAN BUCKLEE.
Elsewhere, Ninti One were celebrated for their protection of artistic, creative and cultural works with the Environmental and Social Contribution Award and senior artist Bede Tungutaalum was awarded the Special Recognition Award. The judges congratulated Bede on his “outstanding breadth of work over many decades, and his strong cultural leadership and vision as a senior artist within his community, nationally and internationally”.
“The NIFA presents an amazing opportunity for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to come together to celebrate the rich heritage and vibrant culture of our First Nations Peoples through fashion and textiles,” Foundation Executive Director, Claire Summers, said.
“Showcasing vibrant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditions in new contemporary forms enables us to share the powerful stories which have connected Australia’s First Nations Peoples to this country since time immemorial,” NIFA Creative Director, Nina Fitzgerald, added. “Fashion is a medium which transcends cultural boundaries, and can be the vehicle to bring people together to celebrate Australia’s rich heritage and vibrant cultures.”
IMAGE: DESIGN WITHIN COUNTRY.
Huge congrats to all those nominated and of course the winners – here’s to seeing more Indigenous fashion on the world stage!
Cultural Adornment and Wearable Art Award
Recognises worn items, created as fine or expressive art, used to define or express culture.
WINNER: Peggy Griffiths from Waringarri Aboriginal Arts
Lillardya Allirra Briggs-Houston from Ngarru Miimi
Jan Griffiths from Waringarri Aboriginal Arts
Debra Beale of Debra Beale Jewellery at Boomalli Art Gallery
Textile Design Award
Includes designs of woven, knitted or other textile constructions, as well as dyed, printed or surface ornamented textiles.
WINNER: Kieren Karritpul from Merrepen Arts Language & Culture
Lillardia Allirra Briggs-Houston from Ngarru Miimi
Ivy Nargoodah, Eva Nargoodah and Margaret Albert of Rukaji Designs from Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency
Dymphna Kerinauia, Kaye Brown, Michelle Woody, Nina Lydwina Puruntatameri, Cornelia Tipuamantumirri, and Bernadette Mungatopi at North, from Munupi Association Arts and Crafts Association, Jilamara Arts and Crafts Association & Ngaruwanajirri Arts
Selina Nadjowh from Injalak Arts Centre
Community Collaboration Award
Recognition of effective and productive relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and the textile and fashion industry.
WINNER: Julie Shaw of MAARA Collective with Bula’bula Aboriginal Corporation
Hopevale Art x QUT with Guuliil of Hope Vale Arts and Cultural Centre
People, Culture & Country, a QLD State Schools Art Project
Babbarra Women’s Centre with Publisher Textiles
Lisa Gorman (Gorman) and Tommy May, Sonia Kurarra, Daisy Japulija, Nada Rawlins, Lisa Uhl from Mangkaja Arts
Marnin Studio Women’s Resource Centre with Design Within Country
Ikuntji Artists with Magpie Goose
Kaiela Arts Artists with Spacecraft Studio
Tennant Creek Aunties for Rise-Ngurratjuta
Environmental and Social Contribution Award
Excellence and leadership in environmental and social development understanding, and practice in relation to textiles and fashion.
WINNER: Ninti One Limited
Anindilyakwa Arts for Bush Dye
Liandra Gaykamangu for Liandra Swim
Perina Drummond for Jira Models
Special Recognition Award
For a group, organisation, or individual that has shown exceptional contribution to the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander textiles and fashion.
WINNER: Bede Tungutalum
Lenore Dembski for Paperbark Woman
Perina Drummond for Jira Models
Selina Nadjowh for Injalak Arts
Fashion Design Award
Recognises a commercial fashion label with a minimum of two collections of original design of clothing, jewellery or accessories.
WINNER: Julie Shaw for MAARA Collective
Liandra Gaykamangu for Liandra Swim
Denni Francisco for Ngali
Cheryl Creed for Murrii Quu Couture
TOP IMAGE: MAARA COLLECTIVE BY CYBELE MALINOWSKI.
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
Brighten up your inbox with our not-too-frequent emails featuring Peppermint-related news, events, competitions and more!
explore
More articles
Look, I don’t want to make anyone panic but IT’S DECEMBER!!! If you’re planning to give homemade gifts, you’re going to have to act fast. …
Hang out with us on Instagram
TWO WEEKS TO GO! 🤩
"The most important shift is moving from volume-led buying to value-led curation – choosing fewer, better products with strong ethics, considered production and meaningful stories. Retailers have real influence here: what you buy signals what you stand for. At Life Instyle, this means using the event to discover and invest in small-scale, planet-considerate brands that align with your values and your customer’s conscience. Consumers don’t need more things; they need better things, and retailers play a key role in selecting, contextualising, and championing why those products matter."
Only two more weeks until @Life_Instyle – Australia`s leading boutique retail trade show. If you own a store, don`t miss this event! Connect with designers, source exquisite – and mindful – products, and see firsthand why this is Australia’s go-to trade show for creatives and retailers alike. And it`s free! ✨️
Life Instyle – Sydney/Eora Country
14-17 February 2026
ICC, Darling Harbour
Photos: @Samsette
#LifeInstyle #SustainableShopping #SustainableShop #RetailTradeEvent
Calling all sewists! 📞
Have you made the Peppermint Waratah Wrap Dress yet? Call *1800 I NEED THIS NOW to get making!
This gorgeous green number was modelled (and made) by the fabulous Lisa of @Tricky.Pockets 🙌🏼
If you need a nudge, @ePrintOnline are offering Peppermint sewists a huge 🌟 30% off ALL A0 printing 🌟 when you purchase the Special Release Waratah Wrap Dress pattern – how generous is that?!
Head to the link in bio now 📞
*Not a real number in case that wasn`t clear 😂
#PeppermintWaratahWrapDress #PeppermintPatterns #SewingPattern #WrapDress #WrapDressPattern
8 Things to Know About January 26 - from @ClothingTheGaps:
Before you celebrate, take the time to learn the truth. January 26 is not a day of unity it’s a Day of Mourning and Survival for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
It marks the beginning of invasion, dispossession, and ongoing colonial violence. It’s time for truth-telling, not whitewashed history.
Stand in solidarity. Learn. Reflect. Act.
✊🏽 Blog written by Yorta Yorta woman Taneshia Atkinson.
🔗 Link in bio of @ClothingTheGaps to read the full blog
#ChangeTheDate #InvasionDay #SurvivalDay #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe #ClothingTheGaps
As the world careens towards AI seeping into our feeds, finds and even friend-zones, it`s becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
We just wanted to say that here at Peppermint, we are choosing to not print or publish AI-generated art, photos, words, videos or content.
Merriam-Webster’s human editors chose `slop` as the 2025 Word of the Year – they define it as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.” The problem is, as AI increases in quality, it`s becoming more and more difficult to ascertain what`s real and what`s not.
Let`s be clear here, AI absolutely has its place in science, in climate modelling, in medical breakthroughs, in many places... but not in replacing the work of artists, writers and creatives.
Can we guarantee that everything we publish is AI-free? Honestly, not really. We know we are not using it to create content, but we are also relying on the artists, makers and contributors we work with, as well as our advertisers, to supply imagery, artwork or words created by humans. AI features are also creeping into programs and apps too, making it difficult to navigate. But we will do our best to avoid it and make a stand for the artists and creatives who have had their work stolen and used to train AI machines, and those who are now losing work as they are replaced by this energy-sapping, environment-destroying magic wand.
Could using it help our productivity and bottom line? Sure. And as a small business in a difficult landscape, that`s a hard one to turn down. We know other publishers who use AI to write stories, create recipes, produce photo shoots... but this one is important to us.
`Touch grass` was also a Merriam-Webster Word of the Year. We`ll happily stick with that as a theme, thanks very much. 🌿
If your fingers are twitching for some crafting, take a peep at this massive list of marvellous makes that can be whipped up in a flash, put together by our Sewing Manager Laura. Ok yes, it was originally a roundup we created for easy Christmas gifts, but now it can be your blueprint for easy craft wins to go on your 2026 making must-do list!
If money and time are slim for you right now – as they are for many of us – these 22 projects will help you avoid the chaos and consumerism of the malls, scratch that creative itch and produce a fun me-made make that won’t break the bank.
Link in bio! 🪡🎨✂️
#PeppermintMagazine #MeMadeGifts #DIYs #EasyWins
"I, like so many of my fellow sewists, live a life of endless lists of ‘to-sew’ patterns, fabrics and garments. My stitchy to-do list is longer than my arm and it ain’t getting any shorter. There are just so many wonderful surface pattern designers, indie pattern-makers and small businesses who I want to support, that I am simply never short of inspiration for garments I’d like to sew. But you know what just does not seem to make its way to the top of the list? Pyjamas. Jimmy-jams, PJs, jarmies. They just don’t rate highly enough for me to commit time and fabric to them. I mean, barely anyone even gets to see them. The ratio of bang vs buck is low on the ‘thanks-I-made-it-ometer’."
You’ve probably heard it from your Nan: always wear nice undies, because you never know what might happen! (And who might catch a glimpse.) But just in case the unexpected happens while you’re slumming it at home in your washed out tracky dacks, Peppermint sewing manager Laura Jackson’s adding pretty PJs to her list of preferred ‘ghost outfits’… Because shuffling off this mortal coil can be perfectly stylish, too.
Read more of `Haunt Couture: Why Laura Jackson Decided To Up Her Pyjama Game` at the link in our bio!
Words and photos: @Laura_The_Maker 💤
#PJPatterns #MeMadePJs #Pyjamas #GhostOutfit
