NIAF 2026:
Indigenous Couture curated by Billie-Jean Hamlet was one of the highlights of Opening Night at the National Indigenous Art Fair.
1. Read more about Billie Jean Hamlet here at National Indigenous Times
2. Don’t make the mistake of telling Walmatjarri/Yamatiji woman Billie-Jean Hamlet that First Nations models and designers are having their moment in the spotlight.
“This isn’t just a moment,” corrects Hamlet, a runway regular at Australian Fashion Week and face of Seafolly swimwear. “We’ve been creating, weaving, painting and telling stories for 65,000 years.
“If anything, the fashion industry is finally catching up.”
“At tonight’s opening of the National Indigenous Art Fair, […] Hamlet is showcasing the strength of First Nations fashion, having curated the launch runway show Indigenous Couture.
[…]
In fashion, Hamlet is a supporter of cultural exchange and engagement, but the fair’s focus is First Nations creativity.
“With this leading into NAIDOC week, it’s important to focus on Indigenous culture, but outside this, fashion embraces all nationalities. It’s for everyone.”
– READ FULL ARTICLE AT SMH July 3, 2026
3. “At its core*, the National Indigenous Art Fair exists to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, and the community-owned art centres that represent them. Unlike many commercial art fairs, it charges no commissions or stall fees, meaning that 100% of the proceeds of every artwork sold go directly to the artists and art centres that participate.
also
Featuring pieces from over thirty different art centres, the fair provides a unique opportunity for attendees to meaningfully connect with artists in person, and to buy works directly from the source […] offers an opportunity for attendees to engage with Indigenous culture more broadly** […]“
National Indigenous Art Fair 2025
July 6, 2025
Added July 7th, 2026:
We didn’t get to the National Indigenous Arts Fair this year. As you can see it looked awesome.