Looking Back
As we close the chapter on 2024, we reflect on the incredible milestones, collaborations, and moments that defined our journey this year. From award wins to meaningful partnerships, each step has been a celebration of culture, sustainability, and storytelling.
COLLABORATIONS
Ewyenper Atwatye Artists
Our main collaboration for the past 15 months has been with the Ewyenper Atwatye (Hidden Valley) Town Camp Artists, based in Mparntwe (Alice Springs). If you have shopped with us recently, the odds are that you have own some wearable art from this small community. We work very closely with Tangentyere Art Centre and they have been a joy to work with! We visited them in-person in April and September. See the COLLECTION here.
Firesticks Alliance Collaboration
Our collaboration with the Firesticks Alliance was a beautiful blend of culture, advocacy, and art. Together, we crafted a T-shirt collection that highlighted the importance of cultural burning practices and environmental stewardship, connecting fashion with critical conversations about caring for Country. The T-shirts were produced in time for NAIDOC to align with this years theme - Keep the Fire Burning - Blak, Loud and Proud. Watch our VIDEO to learn more.
AWARDS
2024 Creative Australia Partnership Awards: Arts Leadership Award
Troy and I were recognised with a Creative Australia Partnership Award for the work we do across our enterprises - Magpie Goose, Aboriginal Art Co and Blaklash. It was a humbling moment to receive such a prestigious award that came from the industry and not from a self-nomination.
We are really proud of this one! Please watch the beautiful VIDEO put together by Creative Australia, featuring our friends Tony Albert and Tim Fairfax, who both had lovely things to say about the work we do. We are so grateful for their ongoing support and encouragement.
2024 Good Design Awards
Magpie Goose received the Good Design Award Gold Winner accolade in the Fashion Impact category and took out the Best in Class, reaffirming our dedication to creating with purpose! The Australian Good Design Awards highlights how design not only enhances functionality and aesthetics but also contributes significantly to business success and societal advancement.
2024 Clean + Conscious Awards
Magpie Goose won the Clean + Conscious Gold Award for the Best Sustainable Womenswear for our Everyday Top and Gold Award for Social Impact. The awards brought significant recognition for our commitment to sustainability and ethical fashion.
FASHION SHOW
Country to CoutureThe Country to Couture runway was a standout highlight. Our Ewyenper Atwatye collection took to the catwalk among other incredible First Nations fashion. The event celebrated innovation and tradition, blending the old and the new to create a truly unforgettable showcase. It was a lovely experience as we had the opportunity to meet the models, help dress them and watch the show come together. And we connected with lots of people during Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair too! Watch the VIDEO (Magpie Goose starts at 7:20)
NEW OPPORTUNITY
FestPAC uniforms
This year, we were privileged to dress 72 delegates attending at The 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture (FestPAC) in Hawaii! It is the world's largest celebration of Indigenous art and culture exclusively from the Pacific region. It was incredible seeing the group wearing our clothes and amplifying the beauty of First Nations fashion on an international stage. We are deeply grateful to Creative Australia for this opportunity. During a particularly challenging year for sales, this significant order had a profound impact on our financial stability. It's hard to imagine where we would be without this invaluable support.
POP UPS
Pop Ups have been an integral part of our business plan to increase sales and gain cash flow. We pop up in cities across Australia to allow customers to feel the quality of the garments, try different cut and new styles on and to converse about the brand and impact we achieve through the brand.
This year we held Pop Ups in many places, where we proudly showcased a range of creations that celebrated the vibrant voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. It was a privilege to connect with art lovers, supporters, and collectors who share our passion for preserving and elevating First Nations artistry.
We visited the following places:
- YABUN festival on Gadigal Country (Sydney) for Invasion/Survival Day 2024
- Kimberley Aboriginal Fashion Textiles (KAFTA) Fashion Pop Up in Yawuru Country (Broome)
- Waylyup (Fremantle) PopUp - hosted by Stackwood
- Naarm (Melbourne) PopUp - hosted by Clothing the Gaps
- Djilang (Geelong) PopUp - hosted by Murran First Nations Hub
- AIATSIS Indigenous Art Market on Ngunnawal Country (Canberra)
- Tangentyere Artists Pop-Ups x2, Mparntwe (Alice Springs)
PHOTOSHOOT ON COUNTRY
Against the stunning backdrop of the desert landscape, we celebrated the fusion of art, fashion, and culture of the talented Ewyenper Atwatye (Hidden Valley) artists who brought these designs to life. We engaged a local photographer to capture the magic of the moment and invited the artists themselves to model the clothing. This approach honoured the creators by placing them at the centre of the storytelling. The photoshoot was a beautiful celebration of the collaboration.
CULTURAL EXPERIENCE
Arnhem Land Trip
In October, Troy, Charlie, and I travelled to Ramingining and Maningrida in the Northern Territory for a weaving project for Blaklash. While the primary focus was the weaving initiative, there were many connections that resonated with Magpie Goose, afterall the original Murnubbarr (Flying Magpie Geese) print was created in Maningrida by the talented artist Dora Diaguma.
During our visit, we also learned about the devastating environmental impact of buffalo on the land and its animals. The Magpie Geese, for example, have been forced to adapt their nesting habits, building their nests high above the ground instead of on it. This adaptation, however, has led to a decline in their numbers. We joined local residents on a buffalo hunting expedition and witnessed firsthand the overwhelming number of buffalo trampling through the landscape, a stark reminder of the urgent need for balance and conservation.
Our time in Ramingining coincided with 'sorry business' (a period of mourning after a death in the community). We were honoured to be invited to a ceremony where the final dance was the Magpie Goose dance—an incredibly special and moving experience that highlighted the deep cultural significance of this bird.
Looking Ahead
2024 has been a year of growth, recognition, and connection. Each project and partnership has reminded us of the power of art and fashion to tell stories, foster understanding, and create change.
As a woman in her forties, this year has been as exhausting as it has been rewarding. The extensive travel took an emotional and physical toll, particularly as many of the Pop-Ups, unfortunately, did not yield financial returns that justified the effort. With this in mind, I plan to focus on staying closer to home in 2025, prioritising self-improvement, life balance, and being present for my family as our son begins Prep.
Looking ahead, I am excited to collaborate with a nearby community that holds a special place in my heart. I aim to spotlight the extraordinary talent of artists from the island and surrounding region while exploring new platforms for storytelling through fashion. With several inspiring projects on the horizon, 2025 promises to be a year of fresh opportunities and meaningful connections.
Huge thanks to everyone who has supported us by attending events, purchasing our designs, sharing our story, and championing the incredible voices of First Nations artists. And special thanks to all our team and collaborators, be it art centres, organisations, friends and family, your support means the world to us and fuels our mission for the future. Happy New Year from the Magpie Goose family!