• City of Darwin is proud to present Country to Couture – A Fashion Legacy, celebrating 10 years of First Nations fashion, creativity and cultural storytelling through the Lightbox Exhibitions program.  

• Curated by Tiana Russell from the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF), the exhibition showcases leading First Nations designers, models and creatives. 

• The exhibition reflects City of Darwin’s commitment to amplifying local creativity, activating public spaces and celebrating the city’s cultural and creative richness.  

City of Darwin is proud to present Country to Couture – A Fashion Legacy, the latest display in its Lightbox Exhibitions program. 

Curated by Tiana Russell from the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF), Country to Couture – A Fashion Legacy showcases First Nations designers, fashion labels and models from Darwin and across the Northern Territory that have featured across ten years of the Country to Couture runway program. 

City of Darwin Lord Mayor Peter Styles said the exhibition reflects City of Darwin’s ongoing commitment to supporting local creatives and elevating arts and culture in public spaces. 

“City of Darwin is honoured to work with the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair to present Country to Couture - A Fashion Legacy, as they celebrate 10 years of First Nations fashion design,” Mr Styles said. 

“This Lightbox Exhibition marks an inaugural opportunity for DAAF and Country to Couture to share a selection of exceptional fashion works and artists from across the Territory in Darwin’s public spaces. 

“The exhibition features Territory fashion designers, textile artists, and models whose work has helped shape the legacy of Country to Couture over the past decade,” he said. 

In 2025, Country to Couture celebrated 10 vibrant years of First Nations fashion design, evolving from an intimate showcase of textile artists and designers in 2016 into one of the nation’s leading platforms for First Nations fashion innovation. 

The exhibition highlights the intersection of traditional artistic practices and contemporary fashion expression, celebrating the creativity and vision of First Nations textile creatives and designers. 

City of Darwin’s Lightbox Exhibitions program features new artworks every six months at four key sites throughout the city, including the Smith Street Mall, Casuarina Library, the entrance to the Dragonfly Carpark on Smith Street and at the Nightcliff Pool.  

The exhibition program provides opportunities for emerging, mid-career and established local creatives to showcase their work in highly visible public spaces. 

The artworks can be seen any time of the day or night, and the program provides an ongoing opportunity for City of Darwin to partner with local lead artists, creative businesses and curators to support and promote local creatives.  

Lightbox Exhibitions showcase art by local creatives in line with City of Darwin’s Creative Strategy 2024 – 2030 goals. We want a city where creativity is amplified. Where talent, skill and tradition are nurtured and elevated for the enrichment of all.  

For more information, visit Country to Couture - A Fashion Legacy | City of Darwin | Darwin Council, Northern Territory 

Image:  

Tiana Russell from Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF), curator of the new Lightbox Exhibition Country to Couture – A Fashion Legacy, onsite at the entrance to the Dragonfly Carpark, Smith Street. Photos by Helspix. 

Dragonfly Lightbox Artworks Left to Right: 
Country to Couture 2022 
Model Savannah Kruger wearing Injalak Arts x Lily Durland with contribution by Ally Beahan and Sister Buffalo. Photo by Dylan Buckee. 

Country to Couture 2017 
Models Shania Rego & Aleisha Scanlon wearing Babbarra Designs x Publisher 
Textiles Collection. Photo by Murray Hilton. 
Country to Couture 2020 
 
Model Samara Puruntatameri wearing Nobody Demin x Bima Wear. Photo by Savvy Social.