Local designs feature on global stage

Magpie Goose Designs, which features artists from Injalak Arts and Ba`bbarra Women’s Centre, recently featured in a fashion show for the Australia High Commission in Sierra Leone.

Magpie Goose designs, which features works by artists in Gunbalanya and Maningrida, have recently featured on a catwalk on the other side of the world.
Magpie Goose, which is a new fashion social enterprise showcasing fabric designed and printed by indigenous artists, had their fabrics on show in Sierra Leone for the Australia High Commission fashion show as part of reconciliation week.
Maggie McGowan of Magpie Goose said it was very exciting to be a part of the show in honour of National Reconciliation Week.
“It’s very exciting to see fabrics that are designed and printed in remote NT communities modelled on the catwalk in West Africa!”
“It shows there’s a global appetite for these unique textiles – that are so rich in stories of Aboriginal culture, landscape, people, animals, community, dreamings, bush foods etcetera.”
Maggie also said there were a lot of positive comments about the local hand screen-printed designs.
“Feedback from the High Commission in Ghana was that there was a lot of interest from people in Ghana and Sierra Leone who’d never seen Aboriginal designs from Australia – so it was a huge opportunity for them to get to publicise and share them,” she said.
“There’s definitely a global market for these incredible prints! We look forward to continuing to work with artists and Art Centres across the Top End – to help create a platform for these amazing designs, around Australia and the world.”
Magpie Goose features designs from artists from Injalak Arts in Gunbalanya, Ba`bbarra Women’s Centre in Maningrida, Palngun Wurnangat – Wadeye Women’s Centre and Tiwi Designs from Wurrumiyanga.