Get to know the Designers in the Indigenous Fashion Projects Runway!
Tickets are now on sale for the Indigenous Fashion Projects Runway at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week! Ahead of the show, here’s a look at the six First Nations designers who will be showcasing their collections…
Bringing audiences together on Gadigal Country, the runway pays homage to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women from across Australia, celebrating their unique stories and journeys, rich cultural heritage and innovative designs.
Presented by Indigenous Fashion Projects (IFP), a Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation program, partnering with IMG Fashion and David Jones, the runway curated by Perina Drummond will showcase collections from:
Kirrikin
By Amanda Healy
The Wonnarua designer built Kirrikin on an ethos of joy, pride, connection and community. Kirrikin is both a resort wear brand and a social enterprise, encapsulating the essence of summer through beautiful artworks by Aboriginal artists from throughout Australia.
Image | courtesy of Kirrikin
Native Swimwear Australia
By Natalie Cunningham
A proud Birpi and Ngarabal woman, the multi award winning designer Natalie Cunningham is sharing dreamtime stories with the world through fashion, working with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander artists throughout her collections.The first Aboriginal designer to showcase at NYFW, Native Swimwear is leading the way in sustainability and fair trade, and has launched the latest range, Native Fit, exclusively through the IFP showcase.
www.nativeswimwearaustralia.com.au
Image | Mina Mina print by Judy Napangardi Watson, Native Swimwear Australia, Photo by Peter Trainer.
Ngali
By Denni Francisco
Ngali collections evolve through the lens of Yindayamarra – fashion that shows respect, is polite, considered, gentle to Country and shows honour to the cross Country collaborations they enjoy with other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives.
Image | Prints translated from the artwork of Lindsay Malay from the Warmun Art Centre, Ngali, Photo by Jacinta Keefe.
Liandra Swim
By Liandra Gaykamangu
Fusing sun, surf and culture. Yolngu designer Liandra Gaykamangu, from North-East Arnhem Land, creates signature prints inspired by her culture and Indigenous women. Each piece tells a unique story, combining 21st century fashion, with the Aboriginal pastime of storytelling and an ethical and eco-conscious footprint.
Image | Interwoven, Liandra Swim, Model Shakira Cooper, Photo by Leicolhn McKellar.
Indii Swimwear
By Nancy Pattison
Indii Swimwear designer Nancy Pattison is a saltwater Dunghutti woman, who draws from the ocean and coastal landscapes of her Country. Each piece builds on a story, created for a collective of unique saltwater women who love the sea, sun & sand.
Image | courtesy of Indii Swimwear
MAARA Collective
By Julie Shaw
Named to acknowledge and honour the ‘many hands’ involved in the creative and collaborative processes, Yuwaalaraay Creative Director Julie Shaw works closely with Indigenous artists and creatives, drawing inspiration from Country to present within the context of contemporary fashion.
Image | MAARA Collective, photo by Jesse-Leigh Elford
Join us at AAFW, or stay tuned for the livestream!
Thursday June 3rd 2021
1:30PM – 2:00PM AEST
Gallery 1, Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St Eveleigh 2015 NSW AU