Country to Couture is an annual showcase of First Nations textiles and fashion design. Supported by the Northern Territory Government via NT Major Events and iconic Australian lifestyle brand Country Road, Country to Couture celebrates the marriage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contemporary fine art and high-end fashion. This year, the runway show will be held on 4 August 2021 at the Darwin Convention Centre.
The success of the textile design movement in remote Indigenous communities has led to innovative fashion collections and exciting collaborations with well known Australian designers, which have been showcased in the Country to Couture event alongside the annual Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) since 2016.
Thank you for your interest in applying to be a part of Country to Couture in 2021. Please share with us information about your collection in the form below. This will also take you through the terms and conditions of participation.
If you have any trouble completing this form please get in contact with us on c2c@daaf.com.au.
Selection Criteria
All expressions of interest need to demonstrate a clear, cohesive aesthetic and quality production. Collections must also show strong evidence of Indigenous agency. The applications received will be vetted by the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation, which will include confirming all applicants meet the terms and conditions of entry and that the form has been completed.
A judging panel of up to six art and fashion industry professionals (including Indigenous curators, media, designers, retailers, peak bodies and copyright experts) will assess the applications. One of the members will be appointed as head judge. The panel will score each application against the following selection criteria:
Fashion Design
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Strong collection story with cultural integrity.
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The collection shows evidence of fine attention to detail, with high quality garment construction and high quality fabric selection.
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Designs must be original.
Textile Design and Fabric Innovation
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Strong embodiment and reflection of Indigenous identity, history and/or culture in textile design.
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Evidence of new textile design and art.
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Use of innovative fabric selection and/or printing techniques.
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Evidence of well considered colour palettes that support the story behind the collection.
Sustainability and ethics
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Consideration of environmental and sustainable practices when sourcing textiles, printing onto textiles, and manufacturing garments.
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Consideration of ethics pertaining to cultural safety, social impacts and
protection of Intellectual Property.
Indigenous Agency
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Evidence of Indigenous agency throughout the entire design process. For all collaborative collections, the assessment panel needs to clearly see that artists have contributed to, and approved, each element of the collection’s development including textile design, garment design, manufacturing, packaging and labeling, marketing and sales etc.
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Evidence that financial benefits are being returned to Indigenous artist(s), Art Centre, and/or designer.
All applications will be assessed as they are presented in your expression of interest. Please don’t assume that the judging panel have any prior knowledge about the collection. This means you need to ensure that the judging panel has all the information they need to assess your application!
Terms and Conditions:
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I understand that the 6th Country to Couture will be held on 4 August 2021 at the Darwin Convention Centre.
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Entry is open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Centres and their chosen design collaborator, or independent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fashion designers.
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Designs or collections that have been seen in previous
years'
Country to Couture
runways will not be accepted.
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Applications must include a complete collection concept at the time of applying to participate in
Country to Couture.
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Only one collection per designer can be submitted to
Country to Couture.
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Each collection requires a minimum of 10 looks, with a maximum of 15 looks, and it is preferable that the garments are an Australian size 8-10.
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Each applicant will be charged a $1,300+GST fee by the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation to participate. The fee
covers
performance costs including promotion, ticketing, venue, models, hair, make-up and shoes.
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Each participant will be offered the opportunity to have a small stall at the Country to Couture trade fair at the 2021 Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair. This will incur an additional fee. There are no formal sales opportunities on the night of
Country to Couture.
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The participation fee must be paid by 1 July or the collection will be excluded from the show. Refunds will be offered for cancellations up until 30 June 2021.
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The images provided in your application will be used for marketing purposes to promote
Country to Couture
and will be used in perpetuity unless DAAFF is otherwise notified in writing.
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For participants in
Country to Couture,
the complete collection must arrive at the DAAFF office (Darwin) by 12 July 2021 with a full photographic inventory. Failure to provide an inventory will result in the Creative Director styling the collections at their own discretion.
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Any small changes to styling can be discussed during the rehearsal, strictly no changes may be made on the day of the show.
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Successful participants will be required onsite at the Darwin Convention Centre for the full dress rehearsal on the 3 and 4 August 2021.
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Travel expenses to attend the show are the responsibility of the participant.