Jarracharra

Australia is in the midst of an indigenous employment crisis. In early 2020, the Federal Government admitted for the 13th year running that it had again failed to ‘close the gap’ – with just 35% of indigenous people in very remote areas employed (compared to 70% of non-Indigenous Australians).

In fact, the number of Indigenous Australians with jobs hasn’t increased at all, and female Indigenous employment rates Australia-wide continue to hover around 44%.

The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals include the right to decent work, gender equality and ending poverty in all its forms by 2030. On our current trajectory, Australia won’t even come close.

Many of Australia’s remote Indigenous people have deep cultural commitments, a desire to remain on country and to practice meaningful cultural work – presenting key employment challenges, particularly in very remote areas.

But these aren’t insurmountable odds, and in Arnhem Land, a group of women is bucking the trend in a creative way.

Our film will encourage viewers to open their minds to a future where the momentum from today builds into a situation where every Australian buys and wears Indigenous clothes.

How different, fairer and better would Australia be if we all just decolonised our wardrobes?

We want to help achieve a future where every Australian buys and wears First Nations clothes.

By decolonising our wardrobes, we can all help support a viable and sustainable First Nations fashion industry, while creating a better and fairer society.

By securing an appropriate broadcast and distribution deal, we aim to reach as many people within our target audience groups as possible.

This momentum really can help the emerging First Nations fashion industry quickly become extremely viable and sustainable - providing culturally meaningful work to First Nations people for generations to come.

We have built a strong relationship with the Bábbarra Women’s Centre and its owner, the Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation, to ensure that our documentary is culturally appropriate and inspirational.

We are now beginning to build a network of project supporters, impact producers and partners across Australia to further develop our film.

We hope that all viewers will begin to decolonise their wardrobes, by purchasing First Nations clothing and supporting First Nations fashion designers.

We will see the First Nations fashion industry grow across Australia exponentially.

In 2021, there is just one Westfield Shopping Centre in the country with a dedicated First Nations fashion store - Trading Blak in Sydney.

By 2025, we will know we have achieved our vision if every major metropolitan shopping centre, and every major metropolitan CBD area both have at least one dedicated First Nations fashion store.

By 2035, every Australian will have at least one First Nations clothing item in their wardrobe.