What Did Australian Aboriginals Wear?
One of the most common misconceptions about indigenous clothing in Australia is the belief that people wore as little clothing as possible, if not none at all. However, this certainly isn’t true, as these people wore clothes and decent ones which differed from one region to another, the climate and even the season. Generally, they wore cloaks crafted from animal skin and feathers, skirts made from plants and animal and human hair, and a selection of other clothing designed to cover the body. Wraps and belts were just another thing they loved to wear, which, in fact, is a sign of their sense of fashion. Not to mention the other ornaments like headbands and necklaces made from shells or even teeth.
Australian Indigenous Clothing on the Rise
With thousands of years of tradition, Aboriginal fashion has an important role in Aboriginal culture. These clothing pieces are an expression of identity, cultural storytelling, proof of the past and assurance for being present in the future. More and more designers are driving this movement of teaching the world about this culture, and people are thankful to them. They are showing that this isn’t a commercial for their clothing and their work, but community empowerment, a connection to roots and a sign of pride.
How Can Indigenous Fashion Educate the Community?
Wearable Art that Tells a Story
When talking about the colourful and breathtaking Aboriginal clothes Australia experts present them as wearable art that can convey a message. It’s a way fashion designers use to educate and inform non-indigenous Australians and all people in general about the culture and its importance. Each artist has a different story to tell, and these prints are a unique way to help them share it. All these clothing pieces show a specific symbol that not all people understand. But the greatest thing is that with their purchase comes a story about Aboriginal culture, history and ethics that the designer strives to show through prints. Sometimes these prints can even represent hills, a specific place sacred to this culture, or even sacred for the designer himself. Other clothing pieces can express the designer’s desire to highlight that people are strong and loud, and they should be proud of who they are and what they do. By any means, they shouldn’t suppress their story, origin and way of being.
Clothes with Visual Geographical History
Depending on the artists and their current muse, a great number of these clothing pieces can also show the diverse ecosystem of some specific First Nation territories. Through prints and art, designers help customers learn more about their land, mountains, hills, coastal regions and their territory. Through their garments, designers can also show the First Nation’s flora and fauna, teaching people about the local biodiversity and the seasonal changes. All of this is done through garment tags, online look-books and product descriptions that fully explain the story behind the specific clothing piece. Magnificent, right?!
Clothing Pieces that Show the Rebirth of a Language
Aside from all these colourful symbols, art and motifs, some designers also decide on showing people the Aboriginal language. Many of these clothing pieces can feature words in traditional language that have a meaning, and through this, they revive a native vocabulary and show it to the rest of the world. Usually, they are tops with a specific print and a word or two around the print that’s related to it or a message. Truth be told, designers are creative, and they can find the easiest way to incorporate a word or saying into an otherwise complex print.
A Visual Spread of Message
Regardless of the motif, design and clothing piece you choose, designers have found a way to make their story mobile and easy to spread. Whether going to work, travelling, going out or to an event, these clothes can easily help you show off your cultural pride through words and symbols.
Truth be told, there are many ways to tell the world the story of the First Nation, but nothing beats spreading the word faster than wearing it. For most people, especially the ones who know their roots, wearing such clothes affirms their identity and gives them a sense of pride. In a society where racism still exists, this is a good way to show people what it means to be proud of your origins. Thanks to designers, people can now wear cultural clothing freely even though they aren’t always allowed to show their identity openly. This is certainly a great opportunity for them to show the world more of their work, potential and their capability. Nowadays, you can find more and more clothing pieces of this kind in specialised stores and among those who want to help people show their culture and cultural identity.
