Australian Fashion Council (AFC) and Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation (DAAFF) invite you to join a morning session bringing together fashion designers, artists and industry stakeholders from across Australia to talk about the future of Indigenous fashion and textile design. 

Initially hosted in Darwin by AFC and DAAFF, the Sydney forum will be the second in a series to allow broad consultation and workshopping, as we work together to support growth in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Fashion space.

WHEN | Wednesday 16 October, 2019 - 9:00am-12:00pm

WHERE | Citizen Wolf, 2 Steam Mill La, Haymarket NSW 2000

PLEASE NOTE DATE BELOW FOR MELBOURNE SESSION

Invitations for this session will be circulated following the Sydney event.

MELBOURNE | November 7, 10:00am-1:00pm - Inner Suburbs Location TBC

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Australia's fashion industry generates $25 billion per year. There are growing opportunities to develop the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Indigenous fashion design, as well as the need to inform and support regional and remote community art and Art Centres. Many opportunities also exist to provide Indigenous artists and fashion designers with the training and skills to develop their art and products, and gain broader access to new markets.

This series of workshops will investigate the current landscape of the global First Nations fashion industry and deeply consult with remote community Art Centres, Indigenous designers, and Australian fashion industry stakeholders.

AFC and DAAFF will work in partnership, supported by a working group of industry representatives, to create a strategic plan for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned and governed fashion business organisation. It will identify opportunities to support the sector, and pilot fashion projects that focus on ways to increase quality, expand reach and ensure best practice in business and production for the Indigenous fashion sector and collaborators.

Read the update HERE.

The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation is a not-for-profit, Indigenous corporation, owned by a membership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Centres. It’s signature event, the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair is referred to as the “Art Basel of Australian Indigenous art” and is internationally recognised as the most prestigious Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art fair. DAAFF is also proud to present “From Country to Couture”, which is an exciting runway show that celebrate the marriage of contemporary fine art with high end fashion. The Indigenous art sector has recognised DAAFF as a key organisation to drive the development of Indigenous fashion on behalf of remote community Art Centres.