In celebration of NAIDOC Week, Ragtrader is profiling First Nations fashion labels.
MAARA Collective
MAARA Collective is an Australian luxury resortwear brand embracing a collaborative approach to design.
The brand works closely with Indigenous artists and creatives, drawing inspiration from Country to present within the context of contemporary fashion.
The brand's name MAARA Collective acknowledges and honours the ‘many hands’ involved in the creative and collaborative processes, where the word 'MAARA' refers to ‘hands’ in the Yuwaalaraay and Gamilaraay language groups.
The brand was recently involved in Indigenous Fashion Project's (IFP) historic first runway at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week.
It is also involved in IFP Pathways Program supported by David Jones, where MAARA Collective creative director and founder Julie Shaw is being mentored by Charlotte Hicks of Esse Studios and Kit Willow of KitX.
Every MAARA Collective product purchased helps to give back through the Buy1 Give1 program, where the brand gives back proceeds to support digital training and education in remote Aboriginal communities.
The brand was a finalist in the 2020 Australian Fashion Laureates, nominated in the Best Australian Emerging Designer category.
Below, MAARA Collective details the story of its resort 22 collection it presented at AAFW (story originally posted to Instagram).
"MAARA Collective is proud to present the Resort 22 Collection featuring an original print by Pitjantjatjara artist Lexie Michael of Ernabella Arts Inc.
"Lexie Michael is a Pitjantjatjara artist born into the Pukatja community of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands of remote South Australia.
"Lexie's deep knowledge of country is evident in her paintings, and for our print collaboration we have licensed her dreamy artwork 'Tjukula' (waterholes) which is a representation of her mother’s and grandfather's country south of Pipalyatjara.
"Her incredible linework and stunning use of colour depicts variations in the landscape where people travelling from Kata Tjuta and Uluru would pass through to the APY Lands.
"The artwork has been digitally printed onto silk and linen fabrications and interpreted, with consultation and artist approval, into the MAARA resort collection of maxi dresses, waterfall tunic styles, breezy kaftans and swimwear.
"All printed garments featuring this artwork are proudly made in Australia; the land from which the artwork and stories originate," MAARA Collective said.
MAARA Collective at AAFW