With next year's event marking Country to Couture's 10-year anniversary, this week Indigenous Fashion Projects has announced applications for the 2025 runway have officially opened.
Presented by the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation, in 2025 Country to Couture will return, celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander textiles and fashion design.
Proudly sponsored by Country Road and the Northern Territory government through the Northern Territory Major Events Company, Country to Couture will return to Larrakia Country on Tuesday the 5th of August, 2025.
Aside from welcoming several emerging and established designers to the stage next year, Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation is eager to push for further financial assistance for designers travelling to Country to Couture and the art fair.
Determined to assist both designers, artists and art centres travelling to the Top End, Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation Executive Director Claire Summers said fundraising has become Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation's (DAAFF's) sole focus moving into 2025.
"Supporting travel and freight costs is the single biggest fundraising focus for our Foundation moving into 2025 and beyond," Summers told National Indigenous Times.
"To attend our three major Darwin-based events (Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, Country to Couture and National Indigenous Fashion Awards) Art Centres and designers can spend up to $30,000 before they've even made their first sale. In 2023, Art Centres spent an average of $12,500 in travel costs alone.
"The DAAF Foundation exists to combat the tyranny of distance, and provide artists and designers with access to market, via our events and digital platforms.
"We do have wonderful corporate partners who are working with us to help address travel costs. One of our NIFA partners was horrified that three winners weren't able to travel to Darwin to accept their award.They have now pledged to support the winners' travel in 2025. We need, however, to generate much more support."
As hype continues to build in anticipation of who audience members will see walk the runway, the team at DAAF are striving to ensure that next year's event is as easy and accessible for both designers and the public to attend.
Applications are now open and will close at 5:00pm ACST, Monday 28 October 2024. Applicants will be notified of participation in December.
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