NAIDOC week is a time where we celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of first nations. It’s a time to learn and support the community, but it shouldn’t just be one week. We can support First Nations Australians every day of the year by simply supporting their arts.
Since day one, First Nations artists and businesses have been creating sustainable products in fashion, beauty, and homewares. Whether it’s weaving or using plant-based dye to create textiles and artworks, these Indigenous artists use the natural world to create. And you can support them by buying their products.
Here are 10 brands to buy from, including the brands empowering remote Indigenous communities across the country and brands taking political action through fashion statements.
Tjanpi Desert Weavers
Tjanpi Desert Weavers is a social enterprise of the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women’s Council, working with over 400 Anangu/ Yarnangu women in the remote Central and Western desert regions who earn an income from contemporary fibre art. You can buy beautiful, handwoven baskets, jewellery including beaded necklaces and earrings, and sculptures made from wool and grass.
Clothing The Gaps
Clothing The Gaps is a Victorian Aboriginal-owned and led social enterprise creating merchandise with meaning and purpose. Each T-shirt, jumper, and hat is made to influence social change. By buying from Clothing The Gaps, you are starting a conversation, and supporting the values stated on each streetwear item.
Ginny’s Girl Gang
These jackets are hand-painted by Gamilaraay women. The company was started by Ginny, a proud Gomaroi Gamilaraay woman from Brisbane. Each product is a reminder of knowledge, stories, and journeys, inspiring the next generation and sharing cultural elements with everyone. You can collaborate on a custom jacket or buy a sweatshirt and hoodie, each with a voice. The denim jackets are the most popular option, with messages of respect, love, and protection.
Emro Designs
This 100% Aboriginal-owned business makes rugs, cushion covers, and outdoor mats with designs from First Nations artists. Profit from each item sold goes directly back to the artists to inject money into their communities. Expect, rich, vibrant colours, with patterns representing gatherings, sandhills, and country. Each piece is unique with its own story to tell. It doesn’t get better than that.
Mabu Mabu
Mabu Mabu, which means ‘help yourself’ in Meriam Mer is a food business founded by Nornie Bero who is originally from Mer Island. You can buy small-batch pantry items or join them for lunch at Big Esso, their all-day bar and kitchen on the banks of Birrarung (Yarra). Their pantry items include teas, spices, and sauces, made by hand. This includes wattleseed hot chocolate, a jar of saltbush, and a wattleseed pavlova kit to make at home.
Nood Australia
If you’re looking for sustainable cleaning products, look no further than Nood Australia. They make natural, eco-friendly personal care and cleaning products with sale proceeds going to the Nood Foundation. Expect shampoos, body wash, lotion, and hand sanitisers made with native Australian botanicals such as Kakadu plum, eucalyptus, wattleseed, lemon myrtle, and more. Their commercial product range also includes household cleaners made from the same botanicals. You can buy floor cleaner, dishwashing detergent, and toilet paper from here.
Peached
This company makes swaddles with a twist. Each swaddle celebrates the beauty of Aboriginal culture with designs by Wiradjuri artists, Derick and Tyrone Peachey. You can use them to wrap your bub, as a blanket for over the pram, or at the beach. They also sell face masks with Indigenous designs.
Sobah Beverages
Yes, you can get non-alcoholic beer that is brewed with Australian bush tucker. The team at Sobah Beverages aim to raise cultural awareness and promote Aboriginal arts, language and history through the Sobah range. Each non-alcoholic craft beer is made from a different bush tucker, such as the lemon aspen pilsner, finger lime Cerveza, Davidson plum ale, and a boab and wild ginger special release. Order here to have the brews shipped to your door.
Delvene Cockatoo-Collins
On North Stradbroke Island, you will find Delvene Cockatoo-Collins’ bright shop selling screen printed homewares, ceramics, and garments. Don’t worry, if you can’t make it to her shop, you can always order online. Using art practices and knowledge passed down over generations, Delvene creates spectacular pieces that are sure to add colour and culture to your home.
Kinya Lerrk
Kinya Lerrk (Wemba Wemba for ‘women coming together’) is the collaboration of Aboriginal visual artists Emma Bamblett (Wemba Wemba, Gunditjmara, Ngadjonji and Taungurung) and Megan Van Den Berg (Dja Dja Wurrung, Yorta Yorta and Boon Wurrung) who have a strong history of collaboration on design/arts-based projects. Fill your home or office space with their colourful designs including prints and plaques. They also have a range of candles and diffusers with scents you would find in the bush, including lemon myrtle.
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