Mainie Australia, a fashion brand hailing from Far North Queensland has emerged as the inaugural winner of the First Nations award, part of the Premier of Queensland's Export Awards.
Since its establishment in Cairns in 2015, Mainie Australia has captivated the global market with its designer brand, infusing vibrant indigenous Australian designs into their stunning range of giftware, garments and accessories.
With a commitment to honouring the world's oldest continuous living culture, Mainie Australia has become a beacon of cultural representation and artistic expression.
The brand's unique creations have resonated with styling travellers worldwide, adding a touch of colour and their wardrobes. By showcasing authentic Indigenous Australian art, Mainie has successfully brought the rich heritage of Indigenous culture to life through their exquisite designs.
Mainie Australia's co-founder and creative director, Charmaine Saunders, is a Gunggari Aboriginal woman from the Maranoa River region in western Queensland.
She, alongside fellow co-founder and director Denis Keeffe, expressed her honour in accepting the prestigious accolade, which recognised their outstanding success as First nations-owned and led enterprise.
"Mainie Australia is proud to be the inaugural winner of the Premier of Queensland's Export Awards First Nations category," Ms Saunders said.
"We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our amazing friends and loyal customers for their unwavering support.
"This support fuels our mission to promote the remarkable talent of Aboriginal women artists and to celebrate Australia's rich and ancient Indigenous cultural heritage, spanning over 60,000 years."
This recognition at the Premier of the Queensland Export Awards highlights the achievements of Mainie Australia and their unwavering dedication to promoting and preserving indigenous Australian culture.
As they continue to expand their global reach, Mainie Australia is poised to inspire and captivate fashion enthusiasts with their unique fusion of art, style and cultural heritage.
The brand offers a collection of handcrafted fashion scarves made with natural textiles, like silk, cashmere, and Australian-grown Merino wool. They also showcase silk kaftan tops, men's silk ties and pocket squares and vegan friendly modal scarves.
Mainie Australia products can be located in leading travel retail chains at international airpots and tourist shopping precincts across Australia.
Mainie Australia was also acknowledged after expanding it's reach to the global stage as the offical provider of Indigenous fashion to The Australian Pavilion at the Dubai World expo in 2021-2022 and they also export to the North American market through its Amazon USA e-commerce platform.
With 43 companies competing across 15 categories, the gala awards dinner on 18 October marked the conclusion of the annual Queensland Trade and Investment Program.
