Country to Couture Opening Show Captivates Audiences, Honoring the Enduring Legacy of First Nations Women in Fashion

Last night, Indigenous Fashion Projects (IFP) celebrated a landmark moment on Larrakia Country as Country to Couture wrapped up the first of its newly expanded two-night schedule. With 11 captivating collections brought together in stunning execution, the opening show marked an exciting chapter for Australia’s largest annual showcase of First Nations Fashion – as  IFP continues to amplify the skills of Indigenous creatives year on year.  

Presented as part of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) Foundation’s 20th anniversary program, Country to Couture continued to champion cultural integrity, artistic innovation and community empowerment, while creating pathways for First Nations designers, artists and creatives on a national and global stage. 

Audiences were captivated by the breathtaking opening show, Carried by Our Matriarchs – From Legacy, We Rise, an evocative celebration of the strength, wisdom and enduring legacy of First Nations women.

Opened with a moving tribute to the late Simone Arnol, award winning artist and NIFA designer of the year, the wings of matriarch butterflies were carried to the base of the boab tree, centreing the focus for the show to begin.  

Audiences were gently welcomed to Larrakia country by Larrakia leader and DAAF Chair person Nadine lee and her daughter Cyan Lee, accompanied by the Leading First Nations singer songwriter Dr. Shellie Morris AO in a ceremonial calling and spoken word piece.

Through powerful collections, designers honoured the rhythm carried by generations of women, the artistry, collaboration and lore that sustains culture, and the grace of Ancestors whose knowledge continues to flow through the sacred cycles of Blak womanhood.

Indigenous Fashion Projects Manager Michelle Maynard said the success of the opening night of Country to Couture reflected the strength, growth and momentum of First Nations fashion across Australia, and the long-term investment being made in Indigenous-led fashion careers.

"Tonight's opening of Country to Couture, the first of two nights, gave our audiences something new, while continuing to build opportunities for our participants, teams and communities. This is what culture, community and creativity can do when they lead together.

The success of tonight's show is the result of years of working alongside First Nations designers, creatives, Art Centres and communities to nurture talent, build confidence and create an event that unites and inspires. Every year we see our industry respond, with the growing calibre of collections on the runway, and through the incredible people who return to lead, mentor and shape the next generation.

The Country to Couture creative team is the essential ingredient to years of successful runway events that embed Indigenous agency. Our team reflects the breadth of the First Nations fashion community who come together on our runway, we ground together on Larrakia country to deliver the stories of designers and artists from so many regions. 

It is our collective approach that has allowed the depth of talent to come through the program and extend into the industry. Cassie Black and Jake Powers returned to the team as styling assistants continuing in their professional development and elevation as leaders in our space; both have grown through the program over recent years and are carving their own career pathways in their respective communities.  

The experience for the team and our models has been enriched by additional industry creatives, including leading choreographer and creative Balla Neeba, who has levelled up the movement and creative delivery of the new runway experience, in collaboration with ARIA Award winning producer, Larrakia based artist James Mangohig, who returned to deliver a rich emotive soundtrack to hold the show.” said Michelle. 

Set within the outdoor landscaped forecourt of Charles Darwin University’s Danala Campus – the runway unfolded beneath a heritage boab tree, in a setting that reflected the spirit of the event. Danala, meaning “dillybag” in Larrakia language, symbolises a place for holding and sharing knowledge, reinforcing Country to Couture’s enduring connection to Country, culture and community. 

Reflecting on a decade of growth, the first show of 2026 marks a remarkable evolution for the event. From humble beginnings as a modest showcase among the Art Centre booths at the 2016 Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, Country to Couture has grown into Australia's leading platform for First Nations fashion innovation – championing cultural storytelling, artistic excellence and empowering representation on a national stage.

Show two is set to take place under the stars tomorrow evening with Seasons of the Land, Water and Sky - a showcase exploring the enduring relationship between people and Country. Framed as a living archive, each collection will embody the imprints of place, story and seasonal knowledge, reflecting how land, water and sky hold memory and guide cultural cycles.

Further information on Country to Couture Show 1 and designers below.

11th COUNTRY TO COUTURE 

 Country to Couture is presented by Indigenous Fashion Projects (IFP), a program of Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) Foundation, supported by Country Road, the Northern Territory Government through Tourism and Events NT, and Charles Darwin University, Production Partners Northern Lights NT, Global Headquarters and Fusion Exhibitions, with Premium Media Partner Peppermint Magazine, and Ticketing Partner Darwin Fringe Festival.

Show 1: Carried by Our Matriarchs 

From Legacy we Rise.

There is a rhythm carried by women.

It moves in the passing of knowledge, from women who walk with wisdom between land and sea. Carrying stories in their hands, knowledge in their voices, and culture in the quiet rhythm of making. 

This runway celebrates the artistry of women, their collaboration, their lore. An honouring of matriarchal strength and the grace of Ancestral knowledge moving through the sacred cycles of Blak women.

With beauty and ceremony, breathing life into practices carried quietly across generations.

• Anindilyakwa Arts x Anna Reynolds, ‘Dadikwakwa-kwa Collection’
• Bábbarra Women's Centre, ‘Kunkare - Bolkkime - Malayi’ (Past - Present - Future)’
• Badu Art Centre, ‘Bami Thaynamul - Rags to Riches’
• Bobbi Lockyer x Skye Lockyer x Mali Isabel, ‘The Mermaid Collective’
• Jaymee-Lee Chaquebor, ‘Jarrabinmy’
• LULUJARU, ‘RARE Earth Collection’
• MumRed, ‘Flow State’
• Nagula Jarndu Designs, ‘My Country - My Story’
• Off The Plantation, ‘Blackbird’
• Waringarri Aboriginal Arts, ‘Boonkaj II’
• Arts Northern Rivers - Jasmin Stanford x Kylie Caldwell x Val Smith, ‘Women of the Rivers’