Desart is proud to announce it’s official sponsorship of the Traditional Adornment Award at the 2026 National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA)!

Launched in 2020, the NIFA provide a vibrant and empowering platform to celebrate the innovation, diversity and ethical practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and fashion designers, whilst contributing to the capacity building of the sector.

Recognising and showcasing excellence across seven categories, the award ceremony is a unique opportunity for the Australian and international fashion community to connect to the world’s oldest living cultures.

Support by Desart, the Traditional Adornment Award recognises an individual or group for the design of items that are created and worn to define or express culture. For tens of thousands of years First Nations Peoples from around the continent have celebrated their cultures through traditional dress. This award aims to encourage the creation and acknowledgement of traditional cultural regalia.

The Award Considers:
– Quality of construction
– Expression of living culture, traditional practice and story telling
– Contribution to the recognition and preservation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture

The Prize:
The winning artist will receive a $3000 cash prize from Desart.

Desart looks forward to attending and celebrating the 2026 NIFA and wishes all applicants best of luck!

The NIFA 2026 will return to Larrakia Country this August alongside the renowned Country to Couture runway (2-3 August) and Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (6-9 August).

Image: Featuring Rena Ngalinggama Guyula, Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts, 2025 Traditional Adornment Award Winner. Photo of model by Michael Jalaru Torres. Courtesy of NIFA.