Boonkaj Collection :: Waringarri Arts

Boonkaj Collection

The Boonkaj Collection celebrates the emergence of fashion designs by Waringarri textile artists

Project Categories

Textiles
Culture

The Boonkaj Collection has sold out at our online shop. Join our waitlist to be notifed when more stock arrives.

About This Project

Boonkaj is a Miriwoong word meaning ‘emerging' or 'coming out’.

The BOONKAJ Collection celebrates the emergence of designs by textile artists from Waringarri Aboriginal Arts. Inspired by traditional knowledge of bush plants, and fostering the maintenance of cultural traditions, artists have created a unique range of plant inspired motifs, hand printed onto fine linen and cotton fabrics.

Boonkaj is more than a collection of beautiful garments. Supported by elders, Boonkaj is a regenerative project honouring cultural traditions and storytelling while enabling new cultural expressions and directly supporting the well-being, economic livelihoods and potential of Indigenous women from Miriwoong Country in the East Kimberley.

Boonkaj evolved from the Waringarri Textiles project, that originated as a program to engage a growing number of new and younger artists and enabled emerging artists to expand their creative outputs. Waringarri artists developed their fashion design skills further through workshops with First Nations Fashion + Design and their vision for the Boonkaj emerged. An early stage highlight in the development of the collection culminated in Waringarri Arts being invited to showcase Boonkaj at the Country to Couture Indigenous fashion runway event in Darwin.

The creative journey behind the Boonkaj Collection derives from Waringarri artists themselves - the colours that grace these fabrics have been carefully handpicked, mirroring the intricate tapestry of the Kimberley landscape. The artists have led the entire process from conception to launch, and have contributed to the collection's aesthetic, designs and colour palette.

The Boonkaj Collection is more than a fashion statement; it's a tribute to cultural heritage, craftsmanship, and artistic vision. With every article of clothing, the Boonkaj Collection weaves the threads of tradition into the fabric of contemporary fashion.

Boonkaj Collection stock has sold out. Join our waitlist to be notifed when more stock arrives.

Boonkaj Fashion Parade - Art in the Park - 21 May 2023

We were proud to showcase our fashion collection at the Boonkaj Fashion Parade, presented at the Art in the Park event, as part of the 2023 Boab Metals Ord Valley Muster festival program. Stunning Miriwoong models walked the open air runway at Celebrity Tree Park in Kununurra, wowing the crowd with gorgeous garments.

News media:

The Kimberley Echo | Tears and cheers at Ord Valley Muster’s event Art in the Park with talent on full display by Cally Dupe read

ABC News | Indigenous fashion showed off in Kununurra amid big dreams for emerging scene by Ted O'Connor read

Boonkaj Fashion Parade at Art in the Park, Ord Valley Muster 2023, Waringarri Arts by Sarah Duguid.jpg

Boonkaj Fashion Parade, Art in the Park - Ord Valley Muster 2023, Photographer: Sarah Duguid.jpg

Boonkaj Fashion Parade, Art in the Park - Ord Valley Muster 2023, Photographer: Sarah Duguid

Boonkaj Fashion Parade, Art in the Park - Ord Valley Muster 2023 - The Kimberley Echo, photographer Cally Dupe, Countryman.jpg

Boonkaj Fashion Parade, Art in the Park - Ord Valley Muster 2023 - The Kimberley Echo, photographer: Ben Broadwidth

Boonkaj Fashion Parade, Art in the Park - Ord Valley Muster 2023 - The Kimberley Echo, photographer Cally Dupe, Countryman.jpeg

Dora Griffiths, Boonkaj Fashion Parade, Art in the Park - Ord Valley Muster 2023 - The Kimberley Echo, photographer Cally Dupe, Countryman.

Skutta Kimberley - Broome Fringe Festival - 4 June 2023

Our Boonkaj Collection was presented at Skutta Kimberley 2023 - Indigenous Fashion Runway in Broome. We were thrilled our fashion collection showcased alongside other amazing Kimberley Indigenous designers and to have some of our local Miriwoong models travel to Yawuru Country to walk the runway along Broome's famous Town Beach Jetty.