Proudly presented by Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation's Indigenous Fashion Projects (IFP), nominations for the 2025 National Indigenous Fashion Awards officially opened on Monday, February 17.
IFP is now inviting the public to nominate Aboriginal and Torres Strait designers and artists for the highly anticipated National Indigenous Fashion Awards.
The NIFAs provide an exciting platform which showcases innovation, diversity and ethical practices of First Nations people in fashion and textiles, recognising excellence in seven award categories.
These categories include the Traditional Adornment Award, supported by Helen Kaminski, Community Collaboration Award, supported by Canberra Centre, Business Achievement Award, supported by QIC, Textile Design Award, supported by RMIT University, Wearable Art Award, supported by Eastland, Fashion Designer Award, supported by Country Road and the Cecilia Cubillo Young Achiever Award, supported by Franchesca Cubillo.
The NIFAs are known for providing emerging and established Indigenous designers, creatives and Art Centres pathways to elevate their careers and profile them.
IFP manager and Tasmanian First Nations designer Michelle Maynard said she is thrilled to announce the return of the popular awards ceremony in 2025.
"We're thrilled to announce the NIFA is back again for its sixth year. It's an incredibly important event to acknowledge, empower, celebrate and showcase Australia's First Nations designers, artists and talent. Anyone can make a nomination," she said.
As part of the NIFA, the Fashion Designer award is recognised for offering the winner a 12-month business mentorship opportunity with iconic Australian fashion lifestyle brand, Country Road.
Last year's Fashion Designer Award winner, Simone Arnol, described the NIFA as life changing.
"Winning the National Indigenous Fashion Award's Fashion Designer Award has been a life changing milestone, opening doors to opportunities I never imagined possible. It has provided me with the platform to elevate my work, honour my Old People, and create meaningful pathways for the next generation of Indigenous designers," she said.
"I'm excited about the mentorship with Country Road and all the invaluable industry insights and opportunities that lie ahead."
The winners will be chosen by a panel of industry judges and announced at the NIFA Ceremony on Wednesday the 6th of August on Larrakia Country. The NIFAs also stand alongside the Country to Couture runway (5 August) and Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (7-10 August).
This year, the 2025 NIFA winners will have the opportunity to tour their designs at four QIC centres as part of the NIFA Showcase Tour.
The NIFA is also supported by the Northern Territory Government through Northern Territory Major Events Company, principal media partner NITV, and award partners Country Road, RMIT, Canberra Centre, QIC, Franchesca Cubillo, Eastland and Helen Kaminski.
Nominations are open from Monday the 17th of February, and will close on Monday the 17th of March 2025.
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