by FilmInk staff
As the fashion industry confronts fast fashion fever, overconsumption and production ethics, a new documentary examines how excess can create opportunities in remote First Nations communities.
‘Fashioning Change’, the latest episode in the YouTube documentary series, You Can’t Do That in the Bush!, premiering in Sydney on November 25, follows women in Urapunga, a remote First Nations community in the Northern Territory. Through their experiences and the work of Remote OpShop Project, the film explores the connections between clothing reuse, access, local enterprise and cultural expression.
National figures reveal the scale of the challenge. According to Seamless, Australia’s national clothing stewardship scheme, 1.51 billion new clothing items were sold in Australia in 2024, up 6% on the previous year, while 220,000 tonnes went to landfill.
“For fashion brands, retailers and the resource-recovery sector, those figures raise serious questions that extend beyond how to recycle discarded textiles: how much clothing enters the market, how long it remains useful and what systems help it retain value,” said Executive Producer of the series, Laticia Braving.
“Fashioning Change brings those questions into a community where clothing’s value extends beyond the garment itself, and provides an example of First Nations enterprise and circularity,” she added.
On the Wilton River in the NT’s Roper Gulf region, Urapunga’s community-run op shop provides a setting for women to build business skills, exercise creativity and develop opportunities shaped by local aspirations.
“Our OpShops show what’s possible when excess clothing is put to good use. It’s about making everyday essentials more accessible in remote communities, while creating opportunities for First Nations women to lead and grow their own businesses,” said Remote OpShop Project Founder, Tanya Egerton.
The 25 minute documentary asks audiences to evaluate their purchasing and disposal habits, how clothes are designed, where they end up, and the environmental cost.
“Beyond raising awareness of clothing waste, this film is an opportunity to celebrate the women behind these OpShops and share their stories with a national audience. Travelling to Sydney for the premiere is incredibly special, particularly as some have never travelled beyond Darwin,” said Ms Egerton.
Fashioning Change, will premiere at the Museum of Sydney on Wednesday 25 November 2026, at 5:30pm | Cnr Bridge & Phillip Streets, Sydney.
DOCUMENTARY BACKGROUND
What could Australians learn if they paid more attention to the bush? Innovation and entrepreneurship are alive across regional and remote Australia, yet the people driving them are often underrepresented in our national conversation.
Created by regional filmmaker and former journalist Laticia Braving, You Can’t Do That in the Bush is an online documentary series, designed to disrupt that pattern. It challenges assumptions about what is possible beyond our cities, raises awareness of regional enterprise and ingenuity, and elevates voices and ideas that deserve to be heard.
Fashioning Change is the third episode, with stories filmed across the Northern Territory, Torres Strait and Cairns, and more slated. The series invites Australians to recognise the knowledge, creativity and ambition in these communities, and consider what could happen when local ideas receive wider attention, partnerships and investment.
