This November, the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) Foundation’s Indigenous Fashion Projects (IFP) proudly unveiled the Pathways Program 2025–2027 cohort, six remarkable First Nations designers and collectives shaping the future of Australian fashion.

From the eastern coastlines, to the red deserts of Mparntwe, to the ancient sandstone plateaus and deep gorges of the Kimberley, this new group brings bold vision, cultural depth, and creative innovation. Each designer carries forward a living story, one stitched from Country, community, and contemporary expression.

Together, they represent the next evolution in Australian Indigenous fashion: connected, collaborative, and unstoppable.

The IFP Pathways Program empowers First Nations designers to grow their businesses and creative practice through mentorship, collaboration, and industry engagement.

It’s where cultural storytelling meets professional expertise, uniting the oldest living cultures on earth with the insights of Australia’s leading fashion professionals.

Through industry partnerships and a network of renowned labels, participants gain invaluable guidance and experience from industry leaders.

The program builds not only skills in business, marketing and manufacturing, but confidence, community, and opportunity, ensuring that First Nations designers are supported to thrive in an industry that is richer for their presence.

Bianca Long — Jaru Girl Designs (Jaru Nation)

Residing on Jaru Country in the East Kimberley, Bianca’s label, Jaru Girl, celebrates storytelling through fashion. Rooted in her identity as a proud Jaru woman, her designs blend bold prints, earthy tones, and cultural motifs. Each piece reflects resilience, connection to Country, and a commitment to sustainability , honouring heritage while redefining contemporary Australian fashion.

www.jarugirl.com

Cissy Gore-Birch — LuluJaru (Jaru, Kija, Balanggarra)

Based on Miriwong Country in the East Kimberley, LuluJaru is a family-led label blending tradition, innovation, and community. From their remote studio in Miriwong Country’s rugged beauty, Cissy and her family create contemporary designs that honour culture, sustainability, and connection, pioneering a distinctive, elegant voice in Australian fashion from the Kimberley to the world.

lulujaru.com.au

Clair Helen — Clair Helen (Tiwi Islands)

A proud Tiwi woman and the first Indigenous graduate of the Whitehouse Institute of Design, Clair Helen is a leading creative force in Australian fashion. Her label combines artistic innovation and technical excellence, producing both refined commercial collections and bespoke statement pieces that celebrate culture through vibrant, story-driven design honouring cherished memories and connection to Country.

www.clairhelen.com.au

Lillardia Briggs-Houston — Lillardia Briggs-Houston (Wiradjuri, Yorta Yorta, Gangalu)

Working by hand on Country, Lillardia asserts self-determination and empowerment honouring cultural identity and principles of slow fashion.  Her garments are small-batch, sustainable, and deeply connected, an act of care, preservation, and beauty that celebrate Southeast Aboriginal culture and use fashion as a catalyst for cultural pride and change.

www.lillardia.com

Rachel Perkins — Atyene (Arrernte & Kalkadoon)

Rachel brings a powerful artistic vision to fashion, through her label Atyene, creating vibrant, art-led collections in collaboration with community Art Centres and artists. Distinctively authentic to Country it is inspired by Rachel brings a refined, sophisticated design palette to her work, and extends her celebrated filmmaking legacy into a new realm of cultural expression and innovation into the language of fashion.

atyene.com

Yarrenyty Arltere Artists — Yarrenyty Arltere Designs (Arrernte, Luritja, Alyawarre, Warlpiri)

This year marks a milestone: for the first time, the Pathways Program welcomes an Art Centre collective into the mix: the dynamic Yarrenyty Arltere Artists from Mparntwe (Alice Springs).

Born from a place of healing and community, Yarrenyty Arltere Artists are an award-winning collective renowned for their soft sculptures, textiles and fashion authentic to the voices of the collective. From their Art Room in the Yarrenyty Arltere Town Camp, their design bridges art and fashion, hand-crafting low-impact garments, distinctively vibrant and joyful, embodying resilience, cultural strength, and the beauty of sustainable, community-led innovation.

www.yarrenytyarltereartists.com.au

Since its inception, the IFP Pathways Program has supported some of Australia’s most acclaimed First Nations labels – including Liandra Swim, Joseph & James, Maara Collective, Gammin Threads, and Kirrikin.

Each of these alumni continues to forge new ground nationally and internationally, representing not just artistic excellence but also business leadership, sustainability, and cultural advocacy.

The 2025–2027 cohort now steps forward to continue this legacy, walking strong, guided by both heritage and innovation.

As the new cohort begins their journey, the IFP Pathways Program continues to stand as a testament to the power of mentorship, cultural knowledge, and shared ambition.

At the conclusion of the program, the designers will present their collections, showcasing their creative growth and celebrating the culmination of their two-year journey on one of the nation’s most prestigious international stages.

Indigenous Fashion Projects (IFP) is proudly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned and governed, delivered by the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation, representing more than 80 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Centres across Australia.

Through programs like Pathways, IFP is building a thriving, inclusive, and self-determined Indigenous fashion sector, one that will continue to flourish for generations to come.

Follow @indigenousfashionprojects for stories, imagery, and updates as this new chapter unfolds.