Injalak Arts launches new line of ethical art thongs

Injalak Arts artists Benson (Isaiah) Nagurrgurrba and Graham Badari showing their designs on the new ethical art thongs.

Injalak Arts is very excited to announce a Pozible crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for the production of its first ever batch of Injalak Ethical Art Thongs.
The thongs are being made in partnership with Etiko, the award winning Australian fair-trade company.
Three of Injalak Arts’ most highly sought after artists, Benson (Isaiah) Nagurrgurrba, Graham Badari and Gabriel Maralngurra, have authorised their cheerful, fun designs for reproduction on the thongs and each will receive royalties.
The samples have already been a big hit with supporters.
“We love these thongs. It is really good if people can wear real Aboriginal designs, not fake ones,” said Co-Manager and artist Benson (Isaiah) Nagurrgurrba.
Aware of the Fake Art Harms Culture campaign and tired of seeing unauthorised Indigenous style designs on a wide variety of souvenir products and clothing, the members of Injalak Arts decided it was time to offer an alternative and began talks with Etiko.
Etiko is recognised for producing the first eco-friendly range of footwear (Australia/New Zealand/Pacific region).
Injalak Ethical Art Thongs will be made from a mix of natural and recycled rubber by a fair trade manufacturer in India. Etiko is scrupulous about its supply chain.
The thongs will be comfortable and hard-wearing. Many thongs, including expensive brand-name ones, are made with a blend of EVA and PVC - not particularly good for the environment or your feet.
Injalak Arts is a non-profit Aboriginal owned art centre in Gunbalanya, West Arnhem Land which has been operating since 1989. It is recognised for pioneering fair trade manufacturing partnerships.
Some of its own Cross-cultural Collaboration products made by disabled artisans in Cambodia are included in the Pozible rewards.
The Pozible campaign finishes on May, 1 and the three artists are very hopeful it will reach target and be a success. If so, the thongs will be available from July 2017.
Injalak Arts plans to sell the thongs from their own retail outlets and also wholesale them in the Top End.
Eitko's first fair trade thongs in 2015 were a big hit for their comfort and durability. Etiko takes ethics and sustainability in enterprise seriously and in 2016 won the Australian Human Rights Commission of Human Rights Award for Business.