Lillardia Briggs-Houston, a Wiradjuri, Gangulu and Yorta Yorta multidisciplinary artist and fashion designer based in Narrandera, has won a 12-month mentorship with Country Road fashion label.
Lillardia says her practice is more than a business, it’s a culmination of cultural identity, expression and cultural heritage with fashion and art as the by-product.
All her works reflect or adapt oral histories and practices her people have continued for thousands of years.
“I’m just translating them into new concepts within fashion,” she said.
Lillardia hopes to see a well-supported and thriving First Nations Fashion ecosystem that honours and highlights their culture respectfully.
“I aim to contribute to this within my own spaces and set up a First Nations not-for-profit textiles and fashion house on Country. This would be to support regional and rural pathways into fashion and textile production where there aren’t any opportunities.
“This has been my ultimate goal since I’ve started in the industry and it very much reflects the experiences of my grandmother who taught me too. I am committed to creating an independent ecosystem in rural communities where there are zero pathways to study or work in fashion to contribute to the next generation of mob coming through fashion.
“Scaling my brand alongside this plan has always been intentional, knowing that at the end of the day, I will grow alongside mob in a way that genuinely supports and impacts self-determination and autonomy. “
Lillardia also won the 2023 National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA) Fashion Designer Award.
She studied fashion at TAFE but has enjoyed a much longer history of garment production, trained by her Wiradjuri grandmother from a young age.
After launching her label in 2019, Lillardia produces all her textiles and works herself, on Country, demonstrating respectful practice and honouring First Nations sustainability practices.
Her work represents self-determination and empowerment and she is passionate about showing the world that fashion businesses are thriving in regional and remote Australia.
“To be recognised on a national level and from community is very honouring. I feel a deep sense of gratitude for being awarded Fashion Designer of the Year. It comes from many years of dedication and commitment to First Nations fashion and art. Working from Country over the years has come with many ups and downs, but this award has reaffirmed just how important this direction has been in my progress as a fashion designer,” she said.
She started her label back in 2019 mainly to assert self-determination and empowerment through fashion and textiles. Having a background in the arts and also fashion design inspired her to merge practices and create garments that combine her love of Culture, Kin and Country. Today, her label provides genuine self-determination and autonomy in the community she grew up in.
Her journey has allowed her to focus on cultural sustainability through her processes and contribute to the wide scope of First Nations fashion and art.
Lillardia attributed her inspiration for her work to her family and Country.
“Growing up I had strong role models and leaders that really shaped my values and cultural integrity that drives not only my label but my everyday life. My grandparents left strong legacies for me to follow so I always credit them for my successes. Without them I wouldn’t have the experience, knowledge or understanding that they passed down to me and that allows me to create and refine my practice.”
“I really want to set the example for other First Nations people, in that you don’t have to sacrifice cultural integrity and values or leave Country to have a successful career in fashion. For me, I feel this is what separates our practices from the mainstream—our dedication and passion to do things that align to us and our self-determination and culture. To endure, we continue caring for Country.”
This article appeared in the Narrandera Argus, 15 February 2024.
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