#BuyBlak: A List of First Nations-Owned Businesses to Support this Christmas
words REBECCA JAMIESON DWYER
Need gift inspiration this festive season? We’ve rounded up some of our favourite 100% First Nations-owned brands – from food to clothing and everything in between – so you can add to cart knowing your purchase helps support Indigenous makers, producers or creatives do their thing. Forget dreaming of a white Christmas – this year, it’s time to #BuyBlak!
Magpie Goose
Started in the NT in 2016 and having recently transitioned to Indigenous ownership, Magpie Goose is flying high as the go-to label for colourful, bold, joy-inducing clothing and accessories for adults and kids. Adorned with prints designed by Aboriginal artists that are then hand screen-printed and made ethically in Australia, every piece – from their dresses and jumpsuits to men’s shirts and baby rompers – is designed to be treasured and will make sure you stand out from the flock.
Indigiearth
With a range including native loose leaf teas, chocolate covered macadamias with lemon myrtle, wattleseed-infused coffee and saltbush dukkah, Indigiearth offers a veritable smorgasbord of delicious treats for the foodie in your life. Drawing on more than 60,000 years of traditional Aboriginal land management practices, all ingredients are ethically and sustainably sourced – helping to forge a connection between people and the earth.
Rachael Sarra
Inimitable multidisciplinary artist Rachael Sarra seems to be everywhere at the moment, and you can experience the @sar.ra__ magic by nabbing one of her ever-popular canvas prints, key rings, totes, notebooks, pins, face masks, puzzles and more! With a fun, engaging style featuring bold shapes and plenty of pink, Rachael aims to challenge our perception of First Nations art and identity – treading a brightly coloured path that’s firmly her own.
Trading Blak
Created by a group of passionate Aboriginal women who want to help guide consumers through misleading marketing claims, Trading Blak makes it easy to shop from businesses that are 100% Indigenous owned and led. Featuring a range of stylish clothing, jewellery, art prints, weaving kits, yoga mats, bush foods and everything else you could possibly hope to stuff in a stocking, it’s your one-stop shop for ticking everything off your Christmas list.
Emro Designs
‘Tis the season to be eating alfresco, and what nicer way to do so than on one of Emro Designs’ stunning picnic rugs? UV-protected, water resistant and sandproof, each tells the stories of Indigenous culture through their unique artist-created designs. Their range also has homeware lovers covered, with cushions, indoor rugs and mats in both bright and neutral tones, with profits from each item going directly back to the artist.
Haus of Dizzy
Created by the self-proclaimed ‘Queen of Bling’ Kristy Dickinson, jewellery and accessories brand Haus of Dizzy is something of an Australian icon, worn by the likes of Ms Lauryn Hill, Baker Boy and Lala Hathaway. Her playful, colourful range includes bracelets, pins, tote bags and hair accessories, but she’s perhaps best known for her signature acrylic earrings, which tend to make a bold political statement while aiming to foster a sense of empowerment and joy in the wearer.
Earth Jinda
Proud Gumbaynggirr woman and mother-of-four Jame Telfer creates her small-batch range of ethically sourced aromatherapy products as part of her greater goal of helping Aboriginal women – particularly mothers – find their safe place within the health and wellness space. Choose from affirming sprays made with rose myrtle, blue gum and Australian sandalwood; rollers to assist with anxiety and sleep; an empowering birthing kit; and a nourishing range of bath soaks – all of which aim to make the recipient feel more grounded and connected to Country with every inhale (surely the gift we could all do with this Christmas).
Yaali Creations
From a Serpents and Songlines mat and a wooden bush tucker puzzle to a dreaming stones symbol game and yarning cards designed to help kids open up about their emotions, Yaali Creations’ thoughtfully designed educational items are just the ticket for the small people in your life – helping them discover and grow while learning more about Indigenous culture.
Sobah
Give the gift of waking up without a hangover this Christmas with non-alcoholic craft beer company Sobah, started by husband-and-wife team Clinton and Lozen Schultz. Combining traditional brewing techniques and native ingredients (think Davidson Plum, Wattleseed and Pepperberry), their award-winning range of zero-alcohol brews aims to remove the stigma around socialising sober and helps raise positive awareness of First Nations culture. We’ll drink to that!
Bush Medijina
Using traditional Indigenous botanical knowledge to create modern skincare, Bush Medijina products are hand-crafted by women on Angurugu, a remote island in the NT. Containing wild-harvested native ingredients such as broad-leaved wattle, wild peach tree and spinifex grass, and formulated using wisdom passed down from their ancestors, their divine range of nourishing balms, body butters, scrubs, moisturisers, face masks, lip balms and more has everything you need to end the year on a serious skincare high.
Tjanpi Desert Weavers
Tjanpi means ‘dry grass’ and this social enterprise of the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council works with female Aboriginal artists from the Central and Western Desert to enable them to make a living from their colourful, contemporary fibre art. Representing over 400 Anangu/Yarnangu artists from 26 remote communities, their offerings include brightly hued woven baskets as well as character-filled sculptures of papa (dogs), tinka (lizards) and tjulpu (birds).
Buffie Corunna
Buffie Corunna’s beautiful acrylic earrings are miniature works of art, featuring evocative, intricate designs inspired by the Western Australian landscape and her spiritual connection to her ancestors. A lifelong creative who engages with many different mediums to share her stories and culture, Buffie’s work also includes larger canvas artworks and commissioned pieces.
Amber Days
This Melbourne-based ethical kidswear label creates the dreamiest threads for little people – think linen overalls, organic onesies, seventies-inspired bell bottoms with matching crop tops and plenty more cuteness besides. Adorned in gorgeous Aboriginal artist-designed prints inspired by the bush, desert and sea, each piece is made in India under fair trade conditions. Plus they’ve now extended their range to include womenswear, so you and your little one can be twinning for days.
Clothing the Gaps
An independent Aboriginal-led non-profit, Clothing the Gaps aims to get Indigenous people moving in order to add years to their lives. Their conversation-starting tees for adults and kids feature slogans including ‘Always was, always will be’, ‘Free the flag’, ‘Not a date to celebrate’ and others – gift or wear one in recognition of the fact First Nations people have occupied and cared for the land for over 65,000 years.
