8 First Nations industry creatives to work with on your next shoot
IMAGE VIA @HOUSEOFDARWIN/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY TANESHIA ATKINSON
Photographers, stylists, creative directors, writers, makeup artists and more.
The agency of First Nations creatives within the fashion industry has grown exponentially in recent years and this is forging an important (and long overdue) space for us in the mainstream fashion narrative.
First Nations inclusion extends beyond just a trend. First Nations peoples descend from the very first artists, the first designers and the first storytellers that have created, directed and woven on this land since time immemorial.
For more on Australian fashion, check out our Fashion section.
With First Nations creatives comes 60,000 years of energy and tradition, and centuries of richness, diversity and creativity. To help businesses to connect with First Nations talent and businesses, Supply Nation provides a national directory of verified First Nations majority-owned businesses that span all sectors and fields of work.
And for more First Nations talent and creatives, be sure to check out Agnt Blak. Founded by First Nations woman Bianca Hunt, Agnt Blak is a 100 per cent Aboriginal owned and operated talent agency exclusively representing First Nations peoples. It’s relatively new on the scene, but one to keep an eye on.
And to get you started, I’ve collated a small but powerful list of First Nations creatives – photographers, stylists, creative directors, writers and makeup artists – to work with on your next shoot.
Rhys Ripper, creative director and stylist
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You may have recently seen Rhys Ripper’s work IRL or on socials – he brought to life an exclusive all First Nations runway in a Melbourne Fashion Week first that captivated audiences across the country. A proud Yorta Yorta man, Rhys is a creative director, stylist and model scout with almost 20 years in the industry. He’s worked with labels like Aje and Country Road, and both national and international publications. If you’re a stranger to his work, it’s time to get acquainted.
Anastasia Keshan, creative director and stylist
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Narrm-based creative director and stylist Ana Keshan recently teamed up with First Nations rapper Barkaa to style the talent in a music video from their latest EP, Blak Matriarchy. Ana’s styling incorporates the powerful matriarchal energy Barkaa tells the story of, merging contemporary fashion with more traditional elements.
Nina Fitzgerald, photographer, writer and creative director
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A photographer, creative director, and writer, Nina’s talent and passion transcend many spaces. Her work celebrates the beauty of First Nations cultures and showcases the innate connection and belonging First Nations peoples have with and to country. Looking at Nina’s photos makes time stand still for a fleeting moment.
Shaun Daniel Allen (Shal), painter, photographer and tattoo artist
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Bundjalung and Yugambeh man Shal is a multidisciplinary talent whose work spans many art forms, specifically painting, tattooing and photography. Shal’s film photography captures the stillness and beauty of a single moment and if you look long enough, you can begin to feel the textures and emotion in the shot. Shal has also worked with Aboriginal fashion label Clothing the Gaps.
Rosie Kalina, makeup artist
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With over seven years of experience in the industry, Wemba Wemba and Gunditjmara powerhouse Rosie Kalina has taken the makeup industry to new heights with her incredible visual artistry. Rosie uses makeup as a way to celebrate the matriarchs in her life, and she specialises in makeup artistry across fashion, editorial, film and television (and gives us inspiration on the regular with her awe-inspiring looks.)
Cole Baxter, photographer
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Boorloo-based Cole Baxter is a Noongar man that specialises in portrait photography in low and natural light. Cole has worked with First Nations labels Clothing the Gaps, Gammin Threads and Deadly Denim to tell powerful stories that celebrate First Nations beauty, histories and future. With over seven years in the industry, Cole’s images are powerful and illuminating.
Rob Hookey, photographer
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First Nations photographer Rob Hookey has forged a powerful space in the fashion industry due to his ability to eloquently transmit stories through a lens. Rob has worked with many recognised national and international labels like Dior, Hugo Boss and Calvin Klein, and has created captivating editorial images for a variety of publications.
Kaydee Kyle-Taylor, hair and makeup artist
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Naarm-based First Nations and Maori woman Kaydee Kyle-Taylor is a hair and make-up artist that specialises in film, bridal and special occasions. Her work is expressive and alluring.
A true creative talent, Kaydee specialises in and caters to BIPOC clientele and is a leading voice in calling for more diversity within the makeup industry. Kaydee is currently developing a directory of First Nations makeup artists from across the country.
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