Peppermint was proud to again support the CIAF fashion perfor-
mance, ‘Buwal-barra... Messenger. Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow.’
in July – a stunning showcase of creative Indigenous fashion and
textiles. “We were excited to present new artists this year, with
no fashion or design experience,” says CIAF Artistic Director,
Janina Harding. “Their work was out of the box, bringing their
own avant-garde element to the show. As Pormpuraaw Art Cen-
tre Manager Paul Jakubowski put it, ‘Culture meets Lady Gaga.’”
More than just a fashion show, the event is a vehicle for local
Indigenous artists to celebrate and strengthen culture through
artistic storytelling. A visually striking and emotive performance,
yesterday, today, tomorrow
THE 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE ANNUAL CAIRNS INDIGENOUS ART
FAIR BRINGS FIRST NATION ARTS AND CULTURE TO CENTRE STAGE.
the show is a mixture of established labels, art centres and tex-
tile artists. Many work with local fashion students or designers to
help bring their textile art to the catwalk; Hopevale Arts & Crafts
collaborated with QUT and Lydia Pearson for their collection.
The show, as always, was a sell-out success, drawing a diverse
crowd. “Apart from the stunning art, design and performance,
CIAF’s inclusive approach is what attracts artists, designers,
curators, models, and even the audience,” Janina says. “It is our
way as First Peoples – sharing and caring for each other, and
giving each other opportunities to shine.”
photos WADE LEWIS AND MATT MALLETTLEFT: HOPEVALE ARTS & CRAFT CENTRE ABOVE CLOCKWISE: MURRIQUU DESIGNS, MARA SWIM, PEACE LUTHERAN COLLEGE, SIMONE ARNOL