Here are the National Indigenous Fashion Award (NIFA) Design Nominees

The nominees for the inaugural National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA) have been announced, and we couldn’t be more excited.

The awards are born of the success and attention drawn by Darwin’s Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation’s Country to Couture runway show, which showcases Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fashion and textile designers with increasing acclaim each year. The 2020 NIFA winners will be announced at a ceremony preceding the Fair, on Wednesday 5th August 2020 at 7:30pm.

Presenters of Australia’s largest indigenous art celebration and now the Indigenous Fashion Awards, Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair‘s foundation provides acknowledgement and support for the artistic expression and representation of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander culture in art, music, performance and fashion. DAAFF pledge that all sales procured by the Fair’s events solely benefit the artists and their communities, and support the ethical purchase of indigenous art by following the Indigenous Art Code.

In a first, this year’s festival (August 6-14) which is usually held in Darwin on Larrakia Country, will be hosted as a 100% online program allowing for even greater exposure for the contributing artists and over fifty art centres involved.

Australian Indigenous fashion is rapidly emerging and gaining global attention. The Northern Territory Government has recognised the need to support this developing space, and will work closely with DAAFF to ensure that the NIFAs provide capacity building opportunities for Indigenous Art Centres, emerging Indigenous fashion and textile designers, and recognise excellence in the industry. – nifa.com.au

The 2020 National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA), a planned annual event, will bring international attention to the design and textiles creations of some of the best designers and artists of our first nations people.

The categories for this year’s fashion awards are;

Cultural Adornment and Wearable Art
Fashion Design
Textile Design
Community Collaboration
Environmental and Social Contribution; and
Special Recognition

The first NIFAs carry a total prize value of $60,000 which is made up of cash, promotion and development sponsorship. Household name, Country Road recently announced that they will offer industry mentorship to the Fashion Design award winner, as well as participating on the judging panel.

The four nominees in the NIFA Fashion Design Award category for a commercial fashion label with a minimum of two original collections, are;