First Nations fashion transforms painful memories into healing
First Nations fashion is emerging as a powerful medium for healing and cultural expression, transforming garments tied to painful histories into symbols of resilience. Designers in Australia are reclaiming traditional practices, using fashion to address historical traumas such as the Protectionist era and to foster community healing.
By integrating traditional elements, like possum and kangaroo skin cloaks, into modern cultural practices, First Nations designers are not only preserving their heritage but also facilitating discussions around intergenerational trauma and identity. This approach highlights the significance of truth-telling in fashion, empowering communities to process their histories and strengthen their cultural identities.
Dr Treena Clark, Chancellor’s Indigenous Research Fellow in the Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building at the University of Technology Sydney, joined us today to discuss how First Nations fashion is reshaping cultural narratives and contributing to healing.
Related Links
Article in The Conversation: How First Nations fashion design can rewrite painful memories and be a powerful method of healing
