Ngali – Denni Francisco

How did Ngali begin? I started Ngali in 2018. I wanted to look at how we might support First Nations artists, particularly those in remote regions in Australia, and then through that, be able to stay more connected to culture and Country. What’s the story behind the print on this scarf? The scarf represents the concept of connection to Country. Since Ngali started, we’ve been collaborating with Lindsay Malay – he’s a Gija man from the Kimberley. His artwork is just so incredibly beautiful to look at and to translate into fashion. When it comes to translating art into garments, the print is always the hero, so our silhouettes are often simple. But we do little touches that might be an extra detail on a collar or an embroidered button – that special something. Why is fashion a great medium for Indigenous art and design? Fashion is a great medium for sharing important stories. I think that people want to know more about Indigenous culture, and fashion is an easy entry point for them. Thankfully, there’s so much more conscious consumerism now. Fashion is a

way to reach more people with more stories and more celebration of culture and Country.