A Darwin-based First Nations fashion label run by an ex-AFL star is eyeing national expansion after received a Federal Government grant.

Founder of House of Darwin, ex-AFL player Shauny Edwards is hoping to take the House of Darwin brand out of the Northern Territory and collaborate with other brands las they have in the past with Film Never Die and Harry’s.

Edwards said he was excited at the prospect of branching out.

“We’re releasing a new collection with AFENDS soon,” he said.

“We’re hoping to expand our footprint beyond the borders of the Northern Territory and Australia through different wholesale accounts and activations.”

House of Darwin was among 21 recipients of the Australian Council for the Arts’ inaugural flourish fund to support the production, design and professional development and increased digital visibility for the First Nations Textile design and fashion sector.

For Edwards and House of Darwin, the brand is not just another fashion label but also a social enterprise.

Edwards said profits were invested back into the community, including the funding of a basketball program.

“We’ve launched Hoop Dreams in the Northern Territory and are refurbishing basketball courts in remote Indigenous communities,” he said.

“We know that basketball courts act as a central point of health, dance and wellbeing for many Northern Territory communities.

“Refurbishing a basketball court with an engaging mural will have great health and wellbeing outcomes for the community.”

Wiradjuri founder and designer of Ngali, Denni Francisco has also been awarded a grant to expand First Nations creativity in the domestic and global fashion market.

A 2022 winner of the Fashion Designer Award at the National Indigenous Fashion Awards, Francisco said she planned to use the grant in a number of ways.

“We’re going to be working on an extension of our scarf collection because our scarf collection is really popular,” she said.

“The grant gives us the opportunity to do more formal collaborations and being apart of the fair (Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair) is actually being able to identify you know what artists might be interested in doing that with us.”

National Indigenous Times (NIT) strives to be the most comprehensive Indigenous online news site in Australia by offering rigorous reporting on the issues that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware this site contains references to people who have died.

Get our latest updates by signing up for our E-Newsletter!

Get our latest updates by signing up for our E-Newsletter!