In a powerful moment of cultural pride and innovation, Yolŋu designer Liandra Gaykamangu has unveiled a trailblazing new fashion collection at Australian Fashion Week 2025, embedding each garment with technology that tells the story behind the designs — no matter where they go.
For years, Liandra has used her fashion label to honour her heritage, blending bold contemporary designs with stories from her community in North-East Arnhem Land.
Now, she’s taking that storytelling to a whole new level — by making sure every piece in her new collection carries her voice, even when she can’t be there in person.
Liandra is the first Indigenous designer to launch a fashion collection embedded with blockchain-backed NFC chips — tiny, sewn-in tags that connect customers directly to the cultural and creative journey behind each item.
At a time when Indigenous artists and designers still face the threat of cultural appropriation and copycat products, this innovation is a powerful act of self-determination and protection.
With one simple tap of a smartphone, buyers can access verified information about the garment’s origin, design story, and sustainable credentials — proving it’s the real deal.
"Originally, it was focused around authenticating Indigenous art work," she told NITV.
"It [ensures] that artists have the control of how their story is told [and] that it's an authentic piece.
"If an artwork is sold, they then also earn a royalty every time."
She immediately saw the application for her own work in fashion.
The opportunity to combat the frequent appropriation of Indigenous cultural property also appealed to the designer.
Yolngu designer Liandra Gaykamangu following her show at Australian Fashion Week 2025. Credit: James Gourley/Getty Images
“It can also help combat imitation art even internal to Australia. Indigenous Australia is so diverse — culturally, linguistically, and through our art practices.
"For example, cross-hatching is very synonymous with Yolŋu artwork and the way we tell our stories. If I see a Yolŋu piece of art, I immediately know it’s from somewhere between east to west Arnhem Land — I can pick it.
"But not everybody else has that trained eye.”
“This helps to really push the boundary on how to educate people on the differences of where different art and culture is being represented.”
Authentical’s founder, Sandeep Rao, said the technology was inspired by a desire to protect and uplift First Nations creatives.
“We started with the mission to protect Indigenous artworks, but what Liandra has shown us is that this is much bigger,” Rao said.
“This is about authorship. It’s about giving power back to the people who carry the stories.”
As part of Australian Fashion Week, LIANDRA’s collection is setting a new benchmark for what fashion can be — truthful, traceable, and deeply connected to Country.
