Fashion Leaders Bridge Cultural Divides at NOMAD Two Worlds

(Fashion designer Donna Karan, Australian Nyungar elder Dr. Richard Walley, and photographer Russell James pose on the red carpet during the NOMAD Two Worlds gallery premiere. James collaborated with many Australian, Native American, and Haitian artists to bring the L.A. collection to reality.)

Fashion Leaders Bridge Cultural Divides at NOMAD Two Worlds
(Adapted from an article by Katherine Peach/Special to LAist)

The fashion world merged with the deep cultural background of Australia's Indigenous heritage to create a show of modern music, art and fashion. The politically charged exhibit NOMAD: Two Worlds embodied the positive message of Reconciliation from the ashes of a tragic cultural devastation.

The collaborative exhibition focused on the cultural divide experienced by Australia’s Indigenous people, a reality witnessed by fashion photographer and Australian native Russell James. The exhibit featured art, music and film that James has worked with for more than a decade.

Donna Karan Collaborates with Australian Artist

(Nomad: Two Worlds photography exhibit)

Donna Karan does it again! -

Back in 2002, New York fashion giant Donna Karan collaborated with Cochiti fashion designer Virgil Ortiz to create garments that fused her tailoring with his pottery designs. Now, she has collaborated with artist Clifton Bieundurry, a Walmajarri artist from the central Kimberley region of Australia, on 10 one-of-a-kind batik-print cashmere-and-silk scarves.

(Donna Karan and Virgil Ortiz collaboration)

(Donna Karan/Clifton Bieundurry scarf)

The collaboration is part of a larger art exhibit called "Nomad: Two Worlds" which features the art of Australian photographer Russell James who partnered with Indigenous artists to create new works of art.

About the Nomad show, Karan said, "To experience the spirit of these people, to see and feel the craft and wisdom of their traditions, is to understand why we must bring their artistry to the world. We must illuminate, educate and raise awareness while cultures like this still exist."

The show is currently on display in Los Angeles, and Karan will speak in a panel discussion with UCLA professor Jessica Cattelino, and Richard Walley, a Noongar Indigenous Australian elder, on additional topics relating to the challenges faced by Native cultures in the modern world.

Some of the proceeds from sales will benefit Karan's UrbanZen foundation, which helps preserve Native cultures, among other endeavors.

There's two main reasons why I love Donna Karan. First, she collaborates with Indigenous artists and she names them. She doesn't do a generic "oh I'm inspired by the beautiful cultures of Native Americans." She collaborates with individuals, and she gives them credit. Secondly, she supports various programs and organizations that benefit Indigenous peoples. Many non-Native designers profit greatly from their Native-inspired collections, yet they never give back. They continue the colonial legacy of profitting from the packaging and selling of Native cultures. I hope other non-Native designers will follow Karan's lead.

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Article | Aboriginal Model A Stir At Fashion Week

Thought this article was interesting, considering the majority of models in the industry are white. Here is one Australian Aboriginal model making headlines:



Aboriginal model a stir at Fashion Week
May 4, 2010 - 12:04AM
AAP

The face of Aboriginal model Samantha Harris has created a major stir on the Australian Fashion Week runway.

The stunning beauty, who transformed herself from a beauty pageant hopeful who wore op shop clothes into a Vogue Australia covergirl, has emerged as the essential drawcard at Fashion Week, which kicked off in Sydney on Monday.

At just 19, Harris is scheduled to appear for 18 designers including Lisa Ho, Camilla, Dion Lee, Rachel Gilbert and Alex Perry, many of whom will use her to open their shows.

She proved herself a fast-rising star by landing a Vogue Australia cover, 17 years after the magazine last featured an Aboriginal model in the coveted spot.

But she's no overnight success story.

Harris started modelling when she was 13 and had worked her way up before Vogue Editor-In-Chief Kirstie Clements felt she had the maturity to be the face of the fashion bible's June issue.

Now, Harris feels ready for the spotlight.

"It took a while to build up to this, so I'm definitely ready now for success," Harris told AAP backstage at RAFW.

"I hope I get a huge cult following."

Harris realised her dreams of modelling only after she endured years of rejection in beauty competitions while the family struggled to finance the striking beauty's ambitions, says her mother Myrna Sussye.

"It was a bit sad, because we would go to competitions and we'd hear other girls with their parents spending $500 on outfits, and we just go to the op shop," Sussye said.

"I would say to Samantha: 'It's okay, I'll take them home, wash them up and iron them and you'll look beautiful, anyway.

"Beauty is from within, anyway, and so I would always say to Samantha, you've got to be beautiful on the inside before it becomes visual.

"That's my Mother's Day present, the (Vogue) cover," adds Sussye.

"I love it ... That was one of the goals, to get the cover of Vogue, and she's made that one as well."

Harris describes the experience of appearing on Vogue's June cover as "so strange, it doesn't seem real".

"It's really overwhelming and it's different to seeing yourself on the cover as opposed to inside the magazine."

Proud father Andrew Harris, who travelled from the Gold Coast with Sussye to celebrate his daughter's breakthrough, says she was always unique.

"She's always being different and there's something special about her," he says.

"She's just pure beauty."