Governed by elegant silhouettes and a commitment to close collaboration with First Nations artists and creatives, Yuwaalaraay designer Julie Shaw of fashion label Maara Collective celebrates the intersections between high fashion and cultural craftsmanship. Her designs are driven by a desire to tell stories; stories of people, places, and Country. With each design, the brand channels the richness and creativity of Australia's oldest continuing culture, and in doing so, forges a new space for Indigenous fashion that breaks free of convention to illustrate a new cultural dialogue.
Founder and creative director of Maara Collective, Shaw is the recipient of the National Gallery of Victoria's (NGV) inaugural Indigenous Fashion Commission. The Commission was
