Four artists from the remote community of Haasts Bluff in the Northern Territory made a 1,700km road trip to Darwin to showcase their work at the eighth annual Country to Couture runway show. The event, which celebrates Indigenous fashion, featured 22 collections and was followed by the National Indigenous Fashion Awards.
The Ikuntji artists—Roseranna Larry, Pam Brown, Kelly Dixon and Hayley Dodd—packed their troopie with screen-printed fabrics and garments after some of their works were lost in transit. Among the missing items was a custom-made suit for the arts minister, but the group remained undeterred. Dodd, 24, was given just ten minutes to join the journey.
Ikuntji Art Centre, founded in 1992 as part of the Western Desert art movement, has gained international recognition. Last year, two artists showed pieces in Paris and London, and in May 2023, the centre staged a runway show at Australian Fashion Week. Larry described the experience as 'very nice' but admitted she felt 'lonely for home'.
The designs reflect the artists' connection to Country, with patterns telling stories of 'big rains' and 'the boogie men and women'. Art centre manager Dr Chrischona Schmidt explained that the garments' cuts embody the movement of the land, such as a dress train reflecting water. Artist Kelly Dixon noted that the red dust of their Western Desert home travels with them in their stories and paintings.
Country to Couture artistic director Shilo McNamee said the show drew from songlines about land, water and sky, allowing artists to explore their connections to Country. Despite logistical challenges—garments arriving by barge, car, plane and truck—McNamee emphasised that this is part of the event's heart. 'We are trying to create space for grassroots artists to stand on the shoulders of giants and shine,' she said.
