An initiative has been launched by Indigenous Fashion Projects (IFP) to reduce exploitation and improve collaboration as First Nations textile and fashion gains popularity.
Through the ‘Best Practice for Indigenous Fashion’ project, IFP is seeking to build a set of guiding principles and processes to equip First Nations artists and designers as they grow their creative practice and business in the fashion industry.
It was launched in collaboration with Australian brand Helen Kaminski, and is supported by Arts Law and IP Australia, with funding from the Australia Council for the Arts’ Re-imagine Sector Recovery Initiatives.
A number of Art Centres have been engaged in the project, including Bula’bula Arts, Bábbarra Women’s Centre, Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts, Marrawuddi Arts and Culture, and Numbulwar Numburindi Arts.
Gapuwiyak Culture Arts centre manager Trevor van Weeren said the initiative has been valuable in educating his design team on how their artists’ stories are represented in their weaving, and how important it is to pass this down through the generations.
“To truly collaborate with Indigenous artists, brands need to understand the depth of storytelling and cultural significance of works,” van Weeren said. “This is important cultural expression, not a commodity.
“This project is key to helping the fashion industry understand the importance of Indigenous expression and cultural nuance to deliver positive outcomes for all.”
IFP representative Dave Giles-Kaye said the project was born out of growing interest among companies and brands wishing to collaborate with Indigenous creatives.
“With deeper insight into the various ways of working, we aim to develop a set of standards to guide cross-cultural fashion collaboration and a toolkit of resources to promote and facilitate best practice and ethical standards,” he said.
“By producing a set of industry standards, the initiative will fortify First Nations artists and designers against exploitation and will pave a way for the industry to grow and leverage the interest and demand from consumers.”
One of the initiative’s first activities was to facilitate a relationship between weaving and textile Art Centres in Arnhem Land and Helen Kaminski.
Further work will involve representatives from across fashion, Indigenous affairs, legal and government backgrounds, coming together to build resources for the broader industry.
Helen Kaminski head of design Pernille Sejer said the educational initiative has deepened the brand’s respect and understanding of this “important form of storytelling in Indigenous communities.”
“Sitting down with a range of fibre weaving and textile artisans was enlightening,” Sejer said. “It has been incredibly rewarding for all of those involved from the Helen Kaminski team to date.
“We are looking forward to the continued journey and the wider knowledge that our team will gain, as well as the sharing of this understanding with the industry and consumer.”
As part of the ‘Best Practice for Indigenous Fashion’ project, IFP have released a first module on their website in the new IFP Learning Centre, with more expected to come over time as the project continues.
This First Nations initiative was launched in collaboration with Australian brand Helen Kaminski, and is supported by Arts Law and IP Australia, with funding from the Australia Council for the Arts’ Re-imagine Sector Recovery Initiatives.