Fashion with Purpose
Every Mainie fashion piece is designed to be a lasting and meaningful celebration of the world's oldest continuous living culture.
Australia is home to an Indigenous cultural heritage that spans over 60,000 years.
Mainie is committed to supporting Aboriginal women artists to earn an independent income from their own work and keep alive the traditional stories that have been passed down to them through many generations of their ancestors over the millennia.
Mainie has worked with the Aboriginal-owned Warlukurlangu arts centre since 2012 to acquire authentic artworks for its uniquely Australian fashions.
Established in 1985 and located in the remote community of Yuendumu, Warlukurlangu is an important stronghold for the preservation of the ancient language and culture of the Warlpiri Aboriginal people from the Tanami Desert region of Central Australia.
"Water Dreaming" Sacred Site on the Warlpiri Homelands in the Tanami Desert
Due to the isolation of their homelands, the Warlpiri were among the last Aboriginal people in Australia to make contact with Europeans. The Mainie collection features designs created by Warlpiri women artists who recall their first encounters with white people on their country.
All artwork designs in the Mainie collection are ethically acquired and reproduced under licence in accordance with the Indigenous Art Code. The Aboriginal artists retain the copyrights to their original artworks and are paid royalties from every piece made that bears their designs.
The provenance of the textiles sourced to create its artisan-crafted fashion products is just as important to Mainie as the origins of its Aboriginal art designs.
Mainie places a high value on its sustainable fashion credentials and works only with biodegradable natural fibres including silk, cashmere, and Woolmark-certified Australian Merino wool. Mainie also offers a range of vegan-friendly, plant-based Modal scarves.
All Mainie products and packaging are ethically sourced from reputable manufacturers who comply with international standards for labour laws, workplace conditions, procurement of raw materials and environmental protection.
Every Mainie piece tells its own Dreamtime story and perpetuates the flame of the world’s oldest living culture.
Authentic Warlpiri women's art designs from the Mainie Australian Merino wool collection
Mainie customers can be assured that their purchase gives back to the woman artist who created the original artwork to elevate and empower her, her family, and her community.
Founded in 2012, by Gunggari Aboriginal woman, Charmaine Saunders, Mainie is a Supply Nation verified Indigenous owned business.
Learn more about Mainie's ethical and sustainable fashion story at: www.mainie.com.au