JULIE SHAW SHINES AT OSAKA EXPO, FUSING INDIGENOUS ART WITH GLOBAL FASHION
By Renata Kelly and Tangiora Hinaki
A proud Yuwaalaraay woman from Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Julie Shaw, makes waves in the fashion industry as a creative director and founder of the MAARA collective. With nearly two decades of experience in the industry, Julie has established a name for herself as her collective is a resort and ready-to-go brand, merging high-end with deeply rooted Indigenous culture. “The core purpose and foundations of Mara Collective are to collaborate with Indigenous artists, bring all of our stories together in a contemporary, beautiful, and respectful way,” she stated.
Julie showcased a captivating collection on the runway at the 2025 Osaka expo. Amongst many designs, pieces from the Desert Bloom are from a later line, which is being included. The two standout prints in collaborations were with Kaytetye artist Caroline Numina, featuring her renowned bush medicine leaves piece. “I’m so excited to bring that internationally and show those beautiful pieces,” Shaw shared. The collection also included ombre silk garments inspired by the Australian Landscape and accessories from fellow indigenous creatives Lyndon Davis and TJ Cowlishaw, whose shoulder pieces and sunglasses added bold finishing touches to the looks.
Bringing industry-savvy approaches to Indigenous fashion, Shaw’s work is deeply rooted in accessibility and wearability. Commercial collections are produced in Australia and stocked by major retailers such as The Iconic and David Jones, drawing on her corporate fashion background.“We can do the beautiful runways and then back it up with commercial products,” she explains. “We’ve got the skills to take it into that commercial space and out into the world to consumers.”
Moving forward, Julie plans to work on the upcoming resort 2026 collection once she returns to Australia, which is set to launch later this year. For Shaw, the journey is personal and professional, remaining committed to building space for indigenous growth and excellence in the fashion industry to challenge the outdated perception. “After so long of working in the mainstream industry and then stepping into this beautiful, really welcoming Indigenous fashion space—that’s where I feel my brand has taken off.”
Click on the link below to listen to the full interview.