The NURLANTHI fashion performance brought together Indigenous Designers, fashion - wearable art, local Indigenous models, dancers and live performance for a special event held during the 2016 Spirit Festival.
Curator of the event Grace Lillian Lee spoke to Living Black Radio about her passion for fashion and her aim to highlight Indigenous fashion in South Australia.
The creative team for the event also included Choreographer Deon Hastie, Set Designer Chantal Henley, and Creative Producer Deni Jones among others.
Based on the Kaurna word loosely translating to mean ‘the twisting of fibers,’ NURLANTHI drew on talent from across Australia and was part of the Adelaide Fashion Festival program.
Designers include Elisa Jane Carmichael from Moreton and Stradbroke Island, MiArt Designs from Mornington Island and Wujal Wujal Art Centre from Queensland.
Batiks created by senior Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara artists from South Australia, the Ngarrindjerri weavers from Camp Coorong, joined woven creations from Grace Lillian Lee and Chantal Henley and formed the shows nine collections.
Held at Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute Nurlanthi included a performance brothers Zaacharaha Fielding and Michel Ross who form the duo "Electric Fields." Their song “Shade Away” was a feature of the “Adelaide Fashion Festival.
Melaa Thaldin. MiArt Designs (Mirndiyan Gununa Art) Mornington Island, Spirit Festival. Source: Presents Nurlanthi. Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute
Electric Fields performing at NURLANTHI Source: Tony Kearney
https://soundcloud.com/electric-fields-412064066
My Island Home. Collaboration with MiArt Designs and Emily Reiser (WITH’EM)
NURLANTHI Source: Tony Kearney
Photography byTony Kearney.