The National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA), recognized as one of the most anticipated events in the fashion industry, are back for 2024. Presented by the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation’s Indigenous Fashion Projects (IFP), NIFA celebrates excellence across seven award categories, providing a platform for Indigenous artists and designers to showcase their talent and connect with the global fashion community.
Nominations for the 2024 NIFA ceremony are now officially open, inviting the public to nominate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and designers. With past winners including prominent names like Lillardia Briggs-Houston, Gapuwiyak Culture & Arts artists, Ikuntji Artists, Ngali by Denni Francisco, and MAARA Collective by Julie Shaw, NIFA has a reputation for propelling emerging and established Indigenous fashion designers, artists, and art centers to new heights.
Winners of NIFA have benefitted from mainstream mentoring opportunities with established brands like Country Road and RMIT, leading to features in leading magazines and opportunities to showcase their work on international runways. Michelle Maynard, IFP manager and Tasmanian First Nations designer, expressed excitement for this year’s awards and encouraged First Nations creatives, talent, and art centers to nominate or be nominated for their contributions to the fashion and textiles sector.
Scheduled to coincide with the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (Aug 8-11) and the Country to Couture runway (Aug 6), the NIFA ceremony will take place on August 7, 2024, in Darwin. Supported by the Northern Territory Government, NITV, and QIC, the ceremony will recognize talent across seven categories, including the Traditional Adornment Award, Community Collaboration Award, Business Achievement Award, Textile Design Award, Wearable Art Award, Fashion Designer Award, and Young Achiever Award.
Since its inception in 2020, NIFA has celebrated the innovation, diversity, and ethical practices of Australia’s First Nations people in fashion and textiles. With growing hype and press coverage surrounding the awards, this year’s ceremony promises to be a spectacle. Nominations are open from February 28 to March 25, 2024, encouraging the community to recognize and celebrate the talent of the country’s top-performing Indigenous creatives.
To nominate or learn more about the National Indigenous Fashion Awards, visit the IFP website.
Include Image: Lillardia Briggs-Houston winning the Fashion Designer Award at the 2023 NIFA ceremony.
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Chief Executive Officer
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