Founded by Wiradyuri designer Rechelle Turner and Ngunnawal/Wiradjuri artist Megan Daley, Corella & Crow is a First Nations fashion label based on Ngunnawal Country in Canberra.

With backgrounds in visual arts, textiles and cultural practice, Turner and Daley strive to create story-led garments grounded in Country, sustainability and cultural continuity.

Their collaborative practice centres First Nations knowledge, hand processes and upcycled materials.

The creative pair shared their inspiration behind the new collection and the excitement surrounding the brands return to Country to Couture.

"It's been a really exciting and busy few months for us. Alongside creating our Madhan (Tree) collection for Country to Couture, we've been fortunate to have some incredible opportunities," Daley told Style Up.

"Earlier this year we were awarded the Creative Australia Flourish First Nations Textile Design and Fashion Grant, as well as the ArtsACT Cultural Arts Grant, which will support us in continuing to grow our practice and develop new work," Turner said.

"The Creative Australia grant will also allow us to travel to Indonesia to learn traditional batik from master artisans. That learning will directly inform the development of our third collection for 2027 and is part of our commitment to continually building our skills while honouring and expanding our own cultural practice.

"We've also been fortunate to showcase our work in a number of places over the past year, including Clothing the Loop and a runway show in Brisbane.

"At the moment, our 2025 Country to Couture collection, Ngurambang-dhi (From Country), is also on exhibition at Belco Arts. It's been wonderful to see the collection continue to have a life beyond the runway and to share the stories behind the work with our local community."

Thrilled to be returning to the runway once again, the pair said they feel much more confident participating this year as they have more experience.

"We are really excited to return to Darwin. We feel like we are a bit more prepared and ready to enjoy the experience and take it all in rather than just feeling like we were caught in a whirlwind last year," Daley said.

"Last year was actually our very first runway, let alone our first time showcasing on a national stage, so everything was new. We were learning as we went and trying to soak it all in at the same time.

"Returning this year, we feel much more confident and prepared. We know what to expect, which means we can really enjoy the experience, connect with other designers and spend time learning from the incredible First Nations creatives who come together for Country to Couture.

"It's such a supportive community, and being part of it is an honour. For us, it's about so much more than presenting a collection, it's about building relationships, sharing stories and continuing to grow as designers and artists."

Speaking on the new collection, both creatives shared the heavy influence of nature and the environment.

"Madhan is the Wiradyuri word for tree, and this collection is really about reminding people that trees are more than just part of the landscape, they're our kin. They hold stories, provide shelter, medicine and food," Daley said.

"They clean the air we breathe, provide habitat for countless species, and sustain life in ways we often take for granted.

"Through this collection we wanted to encourage people to slow down and recognise our reciprocal responsibility to care for trees, just as they care for us.

"Each garment explores a different part of that story, from bark and leaves to blossoms, seeds, renewal and rebirth."

When it came to the creative process, both Daley and Turner said they were eager to incorporate different artistic techniques.

"We were definitely more planned in this collection and tried to make it more cohesive," Daley said.

"We did incorporate some of our own fabric, started to experiment with bead embroidery."

"This collection really challenged us creatively," Turner told Style Up.

"We experimented with designing and printing our own textiles, fabric manipulation and bead embroidery, while continuing to explore natural dyeing, weaving and hand-painted techniques.

"We're always looking to learn new skills, and each collection is an opportunity to grow as artists and storytellers."

Looking ahead, both women are eager to progressively grow the brand and its audience.

"We really want to focus on getting some of our designs out to people," Daley told Style Up.

"Alongside that, we'll be continuing to grow our skills and our practice," Turner added.

"Thanks to the Creative Australia Flourish Grant we'll be travelling to Indonesia to learn batik from master artisans, which will inform our 2027 collection.

"We've also been fortunate to receive an ArtsACT cultural arts grant to run a First Nations fashion show on Ngunnawal Country next year, which is a really exciting opportunity to bring community, culture and fashion together here in Canberra.

"It's an exciting next chapter for us as we continue to grow Corella & Crow."

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