Canberra’s Corella & Crow again take flight at Country to Couture
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When we last spoke to Corella & Crow designers Rechelle Turner and Megan Daley in 2025, they had just shown their very first collection at Darwin’s Country to Couture.
This time when we meet at Belconnen Arts Centre to look at their Nguramban-dhi collection, the duo is about to embark on a journey to the Top End for the second year in a row. Showing their new collection – Madhan – as part of Country to Couture on Monday 3 August, they admit that last year’s experience felt like a dream.
But after carefully shipping off 15 looks that showcase botanical dyeing, silk painting, screen printing, and hand weaving, the invitation to show once again at the biggest celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fashion design only proves that Corella & Crow is not out of place amongst the incredible line-up of designers.
“It’s an honour and absolute privilege to have a second go at it,” says Rechelle.
“We’re really excited to share skills from our Country and our town and to put that on display on a national stage,” Megan adds.
Rechelle (Corella) and Megan (Crow) started planning Madhan straight after showing Nguramban-dhi in 2025, both instantly drawn to the imagery of trees. What makes this collection unique, however, is that they began designing it before they had even spoken about the concept together.
Megan sketched while Rechelle turned the concept around in her head. Then one day, Corella approached Crow – and much like the inspiration behind their brand name – it was a moment of pure kismet.
“We hadn’t even talked about it,” says Rechelle.
“We both had all these ideas around trees, but all of Rechelle’s ideas were about regrowth and seeds, while mine were more of fire and regeneration,” adds Megan. “We both had these really different takes on it.”
Still using upcycled and recycled materials and natural items as inspiration, as the year progressed, they started narrowing down their ideas for Madhan. And while they weren’t sure if they would be invited back for Country to Couture 2026, they had four looks done before Christmas. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a mad dash right until the end.
The result is a cohesive collection that both Wiradjuri and Ngunnawal women are proud of.
Beyond the runway, it has also been a monumental year of growth for the pair.
“Earlier this year we were awarded a $50,000 Creative Australia grant to support our learning and creative practice, including developing future collections and travelling to Indonesia to deepen our knowledge and skills in traditional batik dyeing,” explains Rechelle.
“More recently we were also fortunate to receive two ArtsACT Cultural Arts Grants. Megan received $15,000 to support our return to Country to Couture next year, should our application be successful, and I was awarded $15,000 to develop and present a First Nations Fashion Show here on Ngunnawal Country next year.”
While the finer details are still being locked in, the local First Nations Fashion Show will be held at Belconnen Arts and will be a true community celebration – spotlighting First Nations creatives from designers and models to jewellery makers and photographers
“We’re really excited to put a spotlight on the talent of this region,” says Megan.
“We’re representing the Canberra region, representing Wiradjuri Ngunnawal and representing our mob. You can’t be what you can’t see.”
With more information to come, keep an eye out to find out more about the First Nations Fashion Show.
You can view Nguramban-dhi at Belconnen Arts Centre until Sunday 23 August.
Photo credit: Rechelle Turner
