Wiradjuri designer Denni Francisco wins top prize for second year at National Indigenous Fashion Awards 2022

A Wiradjuri designer whose philosophy of "Yindyamarra" - fashion that shows "respect, is polite, thoughtful, gentle to the country" - won the designer of the year award at the National Indigenous Fashion Awards.< /p>

For the second year in a row, Denni Francisco de Ngali won the fashion designer award for his elegant, couture-focused womenswear that feature digital prints and hand-embellished details adapted from works by First Nations artists from across the country.

Francisco's latest collection, presented in May at Australian Fashion Week, featured work by North West Kimberly artist Gija Lindsay Malay. richLink" data-spacefinder-type="model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement" class="dcr-1mfia18"/>

A woman Wiradjuri, Francisco describes his design philosophy as "Yindyamarra" or "fashion that's how to respect, is polite, considered, gentle to the country and honors collaborations across the country with other Aboriginal and Strait Islander creatives. Torres. ”

Francisco has become a key figure in the Australian fashion industry, consulting on projects such as the creation of an Australian fashion brand.

< p class="dcr-3jlghf">From hand-tied mókko (bark skirt) to sensational streetwear, the breadth of Indigenous design excellence was celebrated at the National Indigenous Fashion Awards (Nifa) during warm dry season evening in Darwin on Wednesday.

Held in Darwin's Larrakia country as part of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, the awards recognized outstanding contributions in six areas : from traditional adornment, textile design, fashion design and wearable art to community collaboration and business success.

Esther Yarllarlla won the award traditional finery for a mókko (bark skirt) commissioned by Babbarra Women's Center. Yarllarlla is a Kunibidji artist living in Maningrida, Arnhem Land, and her traditional woven and knotted works are made from banyan trees that grow next to her house, which she harvests by hand and processes to create string bags, mats, baskets and sculptures.