From Yarn to Yarn: Collaborating with Communities to Create Aboriginal Fashion

Magpie Goose uses fashion to combat economic disparity in Aboriginal communities and bridge Australia’s cultural divide through storytelling. As an Indigenous company, we also have a responsibility to produce sustainable clothing with minimal environmental impact. We address low socio-economic standards in Aboriginal communities. We combat racism and negative stereotypes of Aboriginal people. Our industry, dominated by fast fashion, contributes to environmental degradation through waste, water consumption, and pollution. Australia discards 6,000 kilograms of clothing every 10 minutes, exacerbating landfill and carbon emissions in textile production. The challenge is to produce ethical fashion that supports both people and the planet.

Magpie Goose focuses on three key impact measures; Economic Opportunities: Collaborating with Aboriginal artists, transforming art into fashion, providing income and fostering economic growth in Aboriginal communities. Reconciliation Through Storytelling: The designs incorporate contemporary Aboriginal art, sharing unique cultural stories and promoting cultural awareness and understanding. Conscious Fashion: Prioritising sustainability by using long-lasting natural-fibres and water-based inks, eco-friendly processes including plastic free packaging, and producing small-run limited-edition garments the are made in Australia, aligning with ethical and slow fashion principles. Through these efforts, Magpie Goose supports Aboriginal artists, promotes reconciliation, and champions environmentally conscious fashion.

Each collection provides economic benefits to the collaborating Aboriginal community. Ewyenper Atwatye (Hidden Valley) artists will be paid approximately $70,000 in artwork licensing. Their designs tell unique stories of Aboriginal people, place and culture, sharing diverse and positive perspectives. Our garments enable the broader community to learn about, connect with and celebrate Aboriginal culture and Country. Designs are hand screen-printed onto biodegradable natural fibre fabrics with water based-inks, which are made into quality garments by local manufacturers in Australia. Our garments are designed for longevity, our packaging is plastic-free, and all offcuts from the production process are turned into accessories.

Since its establishment, Magpie Goose has paid $574,429.72 to Aboriginal artists, art centers, and community organisations for artist licensing fees. We employ Aboriginal retail staff and engage Indigenous service providers, photographers, designers and models. We engage fellow social enterprises (Second Stitch and The Social Studio) to produce our accessories whilst creating impact for new migrant and refugee communities. Since 2016, Magpie Goose has saved 792 meters of fabric from landfill by creating no-waste accessories.