Top end fashion enterprise takes off

Printmakers Micheal Naborlhborlh and Gabriel Maralngurra, printing ‘manme’ bush foods design by Merrill Girrabul, Priscilla Badari, Lynne Nadjowh, Audrey Nadjowh from Injalak Arts. Photo credit: Dave Wickens

Two West Arnhem based art centres are a part of an exciting new venture involving fashion created from hand screen-printed fabric made in remote communities.
‘Magpie Goose’ is a new fashion social enterprise which sets out to showcase incredible hand screen-printed fabric designed and printed by indigenous artists in a number of remote communities.
Artists from Injalak Arts in Gunbalanya, Ba`bbarra Women’s Centre in Maningrida, Palngun Wurnangat - Wadeye Women’s Centre and Tiwi Designs from Wurrumiyanga are a part of the project which has received a huge amount of support from people around the world.
Each design and piece of clothing tells a story of people, place and culture.
Launched in Katherine, Magpie Goose is a collection of simple, statement clothing pieces.
The pilot range has already been a roaring success with a huge amount of pre-orders made through a Kickstarter campaign where people were able to pre-purchase the exciting new prints.
Described as ‘bold fashion from the top end’, Magpie Goose is being incubated by Enterprise Learning Projects which is an organisation dedicated to fostering and supporting grassroots business development in partnership with remote aboriginal communities.
It aims to bring the communities involved on a journey, and the business continues to grow with learning opportunities in brand development, content creation, sales and marketing, textile design and more.
By purchasing fabric from the art centre partners means they can grow, creating more opportunities for the artists.
Magpie Goose also aims to work with other communities that do not currently have screen-printing facilities.
For more information visit the Magpie Goose website where you can sign up to keep up-to-date for the next round, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Samara Billy wearing Waterhole at Dilebang’ print by Jennifer Wurrkidj from Ba'bbarra Women’s Centre, Maningrida. Photo credit: Callum Flinn