Mainie’s Vegan-Friendly Modal Scarf Collection: Wearable Art with a Conscience
At Mainie, we believe fashion should be more than just beautiful - it should make people feel good too.
From the very beginning, our vision has been to create a unique fusion of authentic Aboriginal art and luxurious fashion that celebrates Australia’s 60,000-year-old Indigenous cultural heritage.
Every Mainie scarf is more than just a stylish fashion accessory - it is a tangible expression of culture and story. Each design is ethically acquired under licence from Aboriginal-owned art centres, with artists retaining copyright to their works and receiving royalties from every piece made.
Just as we protect the integrity of our Aboriginal artworks, we are equally committed to sourcing our textiles responsibly. From silks crafted in the fabled cities of the Silk Road to Woolmark-certified Australian Merino wool, Mainie selects fabrics of impeccable quality and ethical origins.
It was this enduring commitment to sustainability that inspired the creation of our vegan-friendly Modal scarf collection.
Mainie Modal scarves are made from a plant-based textile, sustainably derived from renewable beech trees.
Why Modal? A Sustainable Choice
Modal is a plant-based textile derived from renewable resources.
It is:
- Vegan-friendly & cruelty-free – no animal-derived materials.
- Eco-conscious – biodegradable and sustainable.
- Luxurious – silky-soft to the touch, lightweight, absorbent and breathable.
For socially conscious fashion lovers, Modal offers the perfect alternative to silk and wool without compromising on elegance or comfort.
A Collection of Six Exquisite Designs
Mainie’s Modal collection brings together the creative visions of Aboriginal women artists from both the lush rainforests of Far North Queensland and the iconic deserts of Central Australia.
Each scarf is digitally printed to capture every vibrant detail of the original artwork. Generously sized at 25cm x 170cm, they are beautifully boxed with an artwork story card and make perfect gifts -affordable, authentic and meaningful.
Rain Bird Dreaming Modal Scarf
Rain Bird – by Vivienne Nakamarra Kelly
Vivienne’s artwork captures the Ngapa Jukurrpa (Rain Bird Dreaming), where a bird carried a storm on its wings across the desert until it became too heavy and fell to earth as life-giving rain.
Her heritage: Warlpiri, Yuendumu, Tanami Desert.
Purple Connections Modal Scarf
Purple Connections – by Natasha Davui
Natasha’s work celebrates the unbreakable physical and spiritual bonds between Aboriginal people, their land and culture. The flowing patterns represent the wisdom, ceremonies and sacred knowledge that have guided the world’s oldest living culture for over 60,000 years.
Her heritage: Gunggari and Djabugay, Queensland.
Storm Bird Dreaming Modal Scarf
Storm Bird – by Christine Nakamarra Curtis
Christine paints the Storm Bird Dreaming from Wapurtali, where smoke transformed into rain clouds and was carried westward by a bird until they fell to the ground as rain. Her work continues the sacred stories passed down through many generations of her Warlpiri ancestors.
Her heritage: Warlpiri, Nyirripi and Yuendumu, Tanami Desert.
Sacred Ceremony Dreaming Modal Scarf
Sacred Ceremony – by Evelyn Nampijinpa Daniels
Evelyn’s design tells the Watiya-warnu Jukurrpa (Sacred Ceremony Dreaming), centred on the seed-bearing Acacia (tenuissima) tree. Both a cultural and medicinal resource, its seeds and the ceremonies associated with them form part of the ancestral stories passed through countless generations.
Her heritage: Warlpiri, Yuendumu, Tanami Desert.
Fire & Rain Dreaming Modal Scarf
Fire & Rain – by Phyllis Napurrurla
This artwork portrays the Ngapa Jukurrpa, a traditional Warlpiri Water Dreaming story that has been passed down through countless generations for thousands of years. It tells of the long-awaited rains bringing renewal to the desert. For the Warlpiri people, who have lived for millennia on their desert homelands, water is the very essence of life. In the Warlpiri language, Ngapa means “water.”
Her heritage: Warlpiri, Nyirripi Outstation, Tanami Desert.
Cockatoo Creek Dreaming Modal Scarf
Cockatoo Creek – by Alicka Napanangka Brown
This design tells the Bush Potato Dreaming (Yarla Jukurrpa), a story of women gathering food on Warlpiri Country at Cockatoo Creek. With roots deep in ancestral land and family heritage, Alicka continues the painting tradition of her mother and grandmother.
Her heritage: Warlpiri, Yuendumu, Central Desert.
Style with Purpose
Lightweight and endlessly versatile, Mainie Modal scarves can be:
- Knotted, twisted or belted to add flair to everyday basics.
- Draped or bowed for chic, feminine styling.
- Layered with casual outfits like jeans and a tee to instantly elevate the look.
Every scarf is more than a fashion statement - it’s a story, a cultural treasure and a tangible commitment to ethical, sustainable fashion.
Mainie Modal scarves are designed especially for the stylish traveller
Mainie: Fashion That Gives Back
Mainie is proud to be a Supply Nation Certified Indigenous business and an Indigenous Art Code Member.
Our commitment is twofold:
- To support Aboriginal women artists in preserving their heritage while earning an independent income.
- To provide discerning fashion buyers with sustainable, meaningful and authentically Australian pieces.
With Mainie, you’re not just wearing a scarf – you are sharing a story, honouring culture and embracing fashion with a conscience.
Discover the collection: Mainie Modal Scarves Collection
