Striving to raise awareness of cultural burning and celebrate this year’s NAIDOC Week theme of “Keep the Fire Burning! – Blak, Loud and Proud,” Aboriginal-owned fashion label Magpie Goose has joined forces with Indigenous land management organization Firesticks Alliance for a special collaboration collection. Magpie Goose and Firesticks Alliance Collaborate for NAIDOC Week Collection
Working together to create a limited-edition range of t-shirts, this collaboration marks the first time Magpie Goose and Firesticks Alliance have partnered on a project. The t-shirts, available for purchase from Monday, 8 July, feature designs aligned with the 2024 NAIDOC Week theme.
With three unique designs created by different Indigenous designers, the new collaborative t-shirt range aims to spotlight Firesticks Alliance and its important work in supporting communities through cultural fire practices. Firesticks Alliance is a national Indigenous network that empowers communities to protect and enhance the wellbeing of Country by reviving cultural knowledge and practices. Over the past decade, the organization has supported 35 communities through mentoring, training, and advocacy, restoring cultural wellbeing and identity.
Firesticks Alliance’s programs aim to reinstate cultural knowledge among youth, Elders, and community leaders. Fire practitioners learn cool burning and other land management techniques to improve ecosystem health and agricultural and economic livelihoods.
“The collaboration and partnership between Magpie Goose and Firesticks Alliance embody the shared values of Indigenous-led sustainable initiatives, supporting the economic development of artists and fire practitioners,” said Firesticks Alliance People and Partnerships Manager, Rachel Steffensen.Members of the Firesticks Alliance wearing the Magpie Goose x Firesticks Alliance ‘Keep the Fire Burning’ collection. (Image: Georgia Wallace)
Several talented creatives contributed to the collection’s aesthetic and design. Tristan Schultz, who designed the cover artwork for the book “Fire Country” by Firesticks Alliance co-founder Victor Steffenson, revisited the illustration for this project. Keisha Leon and Casey Coolwell-Fisher also contributed designs to the t-shirt capsule collection.
Artist Casey Coolwell-Fisher included plants in her artwork, such as the Australian grass tree (Xanthorrhoea), once known as a ‘black boy’ tree. “The ‘Blak Boi’ has played an integral part in our culture by making fire sticks, supplying food and weapons, creating resin/glue, and so much more,” she said. “Blak Boi trees stay resilient and have stood the test of time through the uproar of bushfires.”
Using 100% natural fibres across all ranges, Magpie Goose encourages consumers to care for Country through their clothing choices. Each limited edition ‘Keep the Fire Burning’ t-shirt is made with traceable cotton grown on Kamilaroi Country (St George, Queensland). The t-shirts are ethically and locally manufactured and hand-screen printed with water-based inks in southeast Queensland within 30km of Magandjin/Meanjin (Brisbane).Rachel Steffensen and members of the Firesticks Alliance wearing the new Magpie Goose x Firesticks Alliance ‘Keep the Fire Burning’ collection. (Image: Georgia Wallace)
Owner and Director of Magpie Goose, Amanda Hayman, said the brand is committed to offering a more sustainable alternative in fashion. “We are a part of an industry that is detrimental to the planet, so we offer a better alternative to fast fashion and try and educate our audience about the impacts of their wardrobe choices,” she said.
By collaborating with Aboriginal artists and practising sustainable production methods, the fashion brand creates economic opportunities for Indigenous creatives and reaffirms their dedication to caring for the Country. Each ‘Keep the Fire Burning’ t-shirt not only sells a product but also promotes Indigenous-led land management and supports local communities.
Magpie Goose, which has collaborated with Aboriginal artists since its inception, provides a platform for storytelling through art. It leverages clothing as a medium for sharing culture while generating economic opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and creatives.Rachel Steffensen wearing the new Magpie Goose x Firesticks Alliance ‘Keep the Fire Burning’ collection. (Image: Georgia Wallace)
With the new collection expected to sell out, customers are encouraged to shop and support the two businesses both during and after NAIDOC Week. From Monday, 8 July, the Magpie Goose x Firesticks Alliance collaboration will see a series of three Aboriginal-designed ‘Keep the Fire Burning’ t-shirts released, available for purchase online at www.magpiegoose.com and at the Magpie Goose flagship store on King St, Bowen Hills, Queensland.
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