Lillardia Briggs-Houston wins Fashion Designer of the Year at NIFAs
Growing up, Lillardia Briggs-Houston never thought she'd be on a national stage. Taught by her grandmother, passing on years of knowledge, her designs now tell the stories of her culture on the covers of Vogue and Marie Claire.
Transcript
00:00 These designs may be just hitting the runway, but they've been thousands of years in the
00:07 making.
00:08 Thank you for joining us for the 2023 National Indigenous Fashion Awards.
00:14 Ending a big week of fashion, and the country to couture runway in Darwin, the National
00:19 Awards last night celebrated the innovation, diversity and ethical practices of Australia's
00:25 First Nation designers, naming Lillardia Briggs-Houston Fashion Designer of the Year, and awarding
00:31 her a 12-month business mentorship with major fashion label Country Road.
00:36 My work is a reflection of my grandparents.
00:39 Everything I am and do is because of them.
00:42 Growing up far from the glamour and glitz of the fashion world in southwest New South
00:46 Wales, she never thought she'd be under spotlights on the national stage.
00:50 I was told a few times and scoffed at for even considering wanting to be a fashion designer
00:56 as a young Aboriginal girl in a small community.
00:58 Highlighting success stories and Australia's best in wearable art, textile design and traditional
01:05 adornment.
01:06 I reckon it's the proudest feeling I've ever had.
01:11 You don't really see models like my size.
01:14 I've never wanted anything to be recognised.
01:22 I can't wait to share it with my family.
01:25 Beyond the fabric and the flair, the awards are a springboard.
01:28 It gets them out there and known from emerging designers that no one's ever heard of before
01:35 to really well established designers.
01:38 If you can't see it, you can't be it.
01:40 So having more representation for younger generations to look up to is really important.
01:46 The awards will be broadcast in full on NITV on Friday.
01:51 [Music]
01:53 [BLANK_AUDIO]