Nice Rack! First Nations Label Magpie Goose Is Opening a Flagship Store

At the risk of stating the obvious, the clothes we wear matter. And not just in the sense of sartorial splendour and self-expression, but for those across the supply chain and beyond working towards a more sustainable fashion future. To celebrate these creatives putting people and planet first, we’ve introduced a new digital series called Nice Rack! (…get it) so we can go behind the seams with some of our favourite sustainable brands, together. 

As the first non-Indigenous company to transition to First Nations ownership, the beloved social enterprise Magpie Goose set an important precedent in the Australian fashion landscape. Two years on from the transition, owners Troy Casey (Kamilaroi) and Amanda Hayman (Wakka Wakka/Kalkadoon) show no signs of slowing down, opening their first flagship store in Brisbane on 2 September. The space offers a warm and inviting spot for lovers of fashion to try on the brand’s full range and immerse themselves in the stories behind these colourful pieces. Ahead of the opening, we caught up with Amanda to talk more about the exciting world of Magpie Goose. 

above ARDYALOON COLLECTION BY MICHAEL JALARU TORRES 

Tell us a little about Magpie Goose… 

Magpie Goose is an Aboriginal-owned and led fashion label that shares unique Australian stories by Aboriginal artists from around Australia. The clothes are wearable art and tell stories of culture, Country, community, bushfoods, dreamings, cultural practices, and contemporary and historical life in remote Australia. We’re a social enterprise, with profits being redistributed to artists in our partner communities. 

left COURTESY OF MAGPIE GOOSE right ARDYALOON COLLECTION BY MICHAEL JALARU TORRES 

How do you incorporate sustainability/ethical practices within your brand? 

Everything we do at Magpie Goose is sustainable and ethical. We work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to share stories and create our designs, returning our profits back to the communities we partner with. Since inception, we’ve returned more than $500,000 in royalty payments to artists, in doing so creating new opportunities for First Nations people within the art, fashion and textiles industries.  

We’ve returned more than $500,000 in royalty payments to artists, in doing so creating new opportunities for First Nations people within the art, fashion and textiles industries. 

Our garments are ethically made in Australia. We use only natural fibres and water-based ink to screen-print our fabrics by hand. All our offcuts are repurposed into baby rompers, and smaller offcuts are crafted into accessories designed and sewn by refugees and asylum seekers via the social enterprise Second Stitch.

We are a plastic-free business and have inclusive sizing. Our garments are of such high quality that they are often handed on to friends and loved ones. 

top COURTESY OF MAGPIE GOOSE left ARDYALOON COLLECTION BY MICHAEL JALARU TORRES right COURTESY OF MAGPIE GOOSE

Tell us about any standout moments in your career…

We were really excited when the founders of Magpie Goose approached myself and Troy to take ownership – it was a happy and affirming moment. They trusted us with what was essentially their baby, to not only keep the business going, but also had confidence in us to take it into the future, and to a new platform. It was recognition of the work we’d done with our community, and also of our knowledge and expertise in dealing with Aboriginal art.

above COURTESY OF MAGPIE GOOSE

What are your favourite pieces to wear? 

The Box Dress is kind of like a uniform for me. I have it in every print and I chuck it on pretty much every day. I know it looks good, it’s comfy, and I’m off on my day.

I also love the cuts made from Tencel because it’s really soft. When I dress up and want to feel a little bit more fancy I reach for the Tencel. 

I’m a big believer in quality over quantity when it comes to purchasing… shop less but buy things that will last a long time, that you’ll get good use out of.

READ MORE – Nice Rack! This Brisbane Label Makes Clothes for Every Season of Your Life

What do you think needs to change in the Australian fashion landscape? 

I think consumers can shop more consciously. Supporting locally made and Australian made is really important. I’m a big believer in quality over quantity when it comes to purchasing… shop less and buy things that will last a long time, that you’ll get good use out of. I’m also a fan of natural fibres – avoiding polyester and other synthetics is my way of caring for Country. 

image COURTESY OF MAGPIE GOOSE

Why were you compelled to open your space? 

King Street is a thriving hub in Bowen Hills and was missing the one thing we could provide – a place to connect deeply with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and art. We’re thrilled to join the exciting King Street precinct along with other great retailers, bars and restaurants. By welcoming visitors to the store on a daily basis, we hope to spark more conversations, more learning and more exploring of the rich stories of our collaborating artists.

By welcoming visitors to the store on a daily basis, we hope to spark more conversations, more learning and more exploring of the rich stories of our collaborating artists.

How would you describe it? 

The store features beautiful warm tones and natural materials like timber and rocks sustainably sourced from construction site byproducts. The bright and bold colours of our clothing pop against the earthy feeling of the fit-out. We were privileged to be a part of the design process through our other business Blaklash, and we co-designed the flagship store with architectural design practice Hogg and Lamb. It was generously supported by Lendlease. We commissioned Lardil man Gareth Robertson, of Blackwood Collective, to craft a four-metre artisan table for the centre of the store – a place where one can sit down, have a cuppa and a yarn. With each garment telling a story, there is a lot to share at the table. From this centrepiece, the rest of the store flows. 

image COURTESY OF MAGPIE GOOSE

Tell us about some of the treasures that can be found on your shelves… 

At the moment, we’re celebrating the Ardyaloon Collection as we’ve just dropped the last print in this collection! The Ardyaloon/One Arm Point community is on Bardi/Jawi Country, 2500 kilometres north of Perth in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia. Through the collection, the artists from this community share stories about their Country: seasons, bush fruits, reef shells, the best time to go crabbing according to the tide and moon, whales (miniimbi), dugongs (odorr), crayfish (joodarn) and so much more! There are so many beautiful prints to explore, on some of our signature cuts like the Midi Dress, the Sleeved Jumpsuit and our Collared Shirt.

WANT MORE SUSTAINABLE FASHION CONTENT? RIGHT THIS WAY!