Our story
Hello and welcome to Mainie,
I'm Charmaine Saunders, but those closest to me call me ‘Mainie.’ As the founder of this distinctively Australian fashion and gift brand, I'm thrilled to have you here.
Mainie is a brand that captures the hearts and minds of discerning travellers and fashionable people the world over.
Our stunning collection features beautifully handcrafted silk scarves, silk kaftan tops, Australian Merino wool scarves, and vegan-friendly scarves.
Each exquisite wearable art piece has been lovingly designed to feature authenticated Aboriginal artworks painted by women artists from the Central Desert and Far North Queensland regions of Australia.
Mainie is deeply rooted in my heritage as a proud descendant of the Gunggari Aboriginal people from the Maranoa River region of South Western Queensland. My passion for Aboriginal fine arts was nurtured over many years of living and working in remote Aboriginal communities in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Mainie stands at the intersection of cultural heritage, ethical fashion, and sustainability. We are committed to producing fashion that respects and celebrates the world’s oldest continuous living culture. Each piece we create tells its own Dreamtime story, preserving and sharing the rich traditions of Aboriginal Australia.
Our commitment to ethical fashion means that every Mainie gives back to the woman artist who created the artwork, empowering her, her family, and her community. We ensure that our artists receive fair compensation and recognition for their work, helping to support their livelihoods and perpetuate their culture for future generations.
Sustainability is at the core of our brand. Our collections are made with environmentally safe, naturally derived materials, including luxurious silk and Woolmark-certified Australian Merino wool. We also offer vegan-friendly options of Modal scarves for those who prefer to make conscientious fashion choices. Our production processes are designed to minimise waste and reduce our environmental footprint.
Mainie is more than just a fashion brand; it is a testament to the resilience and creativity of Aboriginal women artists. When you wear a Mainie, you are not just showcasing a piece of authentic Aboriginal art; you are cherishing a story, a culture and a community. Every Mainie is destined to become a treasured heirloom, a piece to be coveted and cherished for generations to come.
Thank you for being part of our story and supporting a uniquely Australian fashion label that values cultural heritage, ethics and sustainability.
Charmaine 'Mainie' Saunders
OUR STORY
Our Mantra…
Mainie is a distinctively Australian fashion and gift brand to covet and collect, capturing the hearts and minds of discerning travellers and fashionable people the world over.
What is MAINIE…
Mainie is a stunning collection of beautifully handcrafted modal scarves, silk scarves, silk kaftan tops and Australian Merino wool scarves.
Each exquisite piece has been lovingly designed to feature authenticated Aboriginal artworks painted by women artists from the Central Desert and Far North Queensland regions of Australia.
Meet MAINIE…
Mainie Founder, Charmaine Saunders (or ‘Mainie’ to those nearest and dearest), is a descendant of the Gunggari Aboriginal people from the Maranoa River region of South Western Queensland.
Charmaine’s love of Aboriginal fine arts is palpable, developed over many years of living and working in remote Aboriginal communities in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
A Promise with Every Piece
Every piece tells its own Dreamtime story and perpetuates the flame of the world’s oldest living culture.
Every piece sold gives back to the woman artist who created the artwork to elevate and empower her, her family and her community.
Every piece is destined to become a treasured heirloom.
Founded by Gunggari Aboriginal woman Charmaine Saunders in 2012, Mainie is a Supply Nation certified Indigenous Australian-owned company and an Indigenous Art Code approved dealer member. We recognise the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work, and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
We acknowledge the sorrow of the Stolen Generations and the impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We respect the resilience, strength and pride of Australia’s First Nations people and their communities. Mainie is committed to supporting Aboriginal women artists to earn an independent income from their own work and to keep alive their traditional cultural heritage for future generations.