Juluwarlu Art Group and Nancybird shortlisted for prestigious National Indigenous Fashion Award

The stunning landscapes of Yindjibarndi country are making waves in the world of fashion, with a collaboration between Juluwarlu Art Group and Melbourne-based label Nancybird shortlisted for a National Indigenous Fashion Award. At the centre of this creative partnership is Yindjibarndi elder and artist Wendy Hubert, whose richly layered artworks have been transformed into fashion and homewares through collaborations with Nancybird founder Emily Wright. Their partnership began in 2023, when the two teamed up on a capsule collection of clothing and bags that brought Ms Hubert’s paintings to life, capturing the Pilbara landscapes at dawn and dusk. More recently, Nancybird and Juluwarlu have extended the partnership with a new homewares collection, Ganalili, bringing Hubert’s stories and connection to country into the spaces we live. “When we worked together in 2023 on the apparel range, we just got along really well and enjoyed the collaboration,” Ms Wright said. “Gabby Howlett, the centre manager of Juluwarlu, suggested a home collection and I just really loved that idea as well. “We went for it again, Wendy’s art is so beautiful, it was really great to see it in a home range where we could feature her full artworks, compared to apparel where it’s in smaller pieces. “Last time, we did a shoot with Wendy wearing the clothing at the Darwin Art Fair, and this time we all got together again at the Red Earth Arts Festival (in Karratha), and we did a shoot in the spinifex grass, just on the side of the road.” The team also organised photo shoots in iconic Pilbara spots such as Python and Miaree pools. “Wendy used to go swimming at Miaree Pool with her family, and so it was really nice to be able to shoot in places that were meaningful to her,” Ms Wright said. Beyond the designs, the partnership is also mentor-focused, a key factor in their community collaboration award nomination. “Some of the art centre members are coming to Melbourne, and we’ll be showing them the aspects of running a business in terms of fashion or a product,” Ms Wright said. “We’ll be teaching them e-commerce stuff, as well as how we send orders out, and just basically teaching them all the different aspects of a business of our size.” Award winners will be announced at the Indigenous Fashion Awards in Darwin on August 6.

Juluwarlu Art Group and Nancybird shortlisted for prestigious National Indigenous Fashion Award

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