The substantial cost for designers, artists and art centres to attend fashion events is well documented, with 2024 seeing these expenses only increase.

Because of these travel, transfer and accommodation costs, it is becoming increasingly common for designers, artists and art centres to showcase and present their works at events without physically attending.

Additionally, Indigenous designers, art centres and artists selected for such events are often emerging and new to the industry and often receiving minimal support from outside sponsors such a fashion brands or retailers.

One event which has identified budgetary restraints as a recurring issue is Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair's Country to Couture runway, which has seen select brands and creatives not attend due to the costs associated with getting to and from Darwin.

Eager to combat the issue and implement strategies to alleviate cost deterrents moving forward is Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Executive Director, Claire Summers.

"The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) Foundation commits almost $140,000 of our operational funding to support the travel of Art Centres to the Fair each year," Summers said.

"Whilst it means less resources (at least 1.5 FTE) to contribute to our small and hardworking team, our travel subsidy grant is critical. But when you divide this between 80 participating Art Centres, it feels like butter scraped over too much bread.

Summers said since the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost of travel has "more than doubled".

"These prices are deeply affecting those who are already disadvantaged," Summers said.

"Our Art Centres are travelling from some of the most remote locations in Australia (let alone the world).

"Regional airlines are closing down at the rate of knots, and companies such as Airnorth are charging crippling amounts from communities in the Top End.

"There is no regional travel subsidy or capped prices in the NT, unlike in Western Australia and Queensland. NT artists are really suffering."

Determined to assist both designers, artists and art centres travelling to the Top End, Summers said fundraising has become Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation's (DAAF) 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 Style Up.

"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."

Summers and the broader DAAF Foundation are not only eager to implement change within their organisation and series of events, but also encourage other businesses and fashion events to follow suit.

"On a brighter note, there are budding conversations that we are having with potential corporate partners that we hope may bring some relief to our amazing Art Centres and designers in the near future," Summers said.

"Funders should know that for every dollar that our Foundation receives in funding, we return more than five back to communities and the NT economy.

"Our airlines need to have far more pressure placed on them to cut airfare prices. Our audiences also need relief from these airfare hikes so that they can attend our events."

Ahead of 2025, both the Indigenous community and broader creative industry are hoping to see a shift in how fashion events can financially support artists, designers and creatives traveling to events they are participating in or showcasing at.

"We feel very privileged to showcase such incredible talent - the world needs to have the opportunity to genuinely meet and learn from our prolific First Nations artists and designers," Summers said.

"We don't need yet another hurdle in our way to achieving this."

For more fashion, beauty and lifestyle news subscribe for free to the Style Up newsletter.