First Nations Fashion and Design is set to make history again at this year’s Afterpay Australia Fashion Week
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WORDS BY IZZY WIGHT
Representing the future of First Nations design talent.
Fashion Journal is proud to continue an ongoing partnership with First Nations Fashion and Design aimed at highlighting and amplifying First Nations voices, talent, culture and stories across the industry. Fashion Journal acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first Australians and traditional custodians of the lands on which we live, learn and work. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
After making history in 2021 with two landmark showcases of First Nations designs, First Nations Fashion and Design (FNFD) is returning to Gadigal Country for another year of Afterpay Australian Fashion Week. Spanning the week of May 9 to 13, AAFW is set to deliver a dynamic mix of shows and presentations from Australia’s abundance of creative fashion talent.
Bookmarking the entirety of AAFW, FNFD will kick off the week with an official Welcome to Country and close out the event with a sold-out Friday night show. Of the seven designers included in the dynamic showcase, two will be returning, while five will be making an AAFW debut.
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Produced, styled and staffed by an entirely First Nations crew, the second edition of the pioneering FNFD show will foster ongoing opportunities and skill development for the Aboriginal fashion industry.
“The designers represent a broad cross-section of the undeniable talent flourishing in our remote, rural and urban communities. These designers are the beating heart of Blak Excellence and represent the future of First Nations design talent,” stated FNFD Creative Director, Grace Lillian-Lee.
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With live performances and a selection of designs from unique First Nations labels, the closing show lineup features the likes of Clothing The Gaps, Nungala Creative, Ihraa Swim, Ikuntji Artists, Gantharri, Myrrdah, Paul McCann and Elverina Johnston x Taking Shape.
“We are honoured to showcase Blak Excellence to a global audience. For the first time, a blak production company has been invited to host the closing runway show of Australian Fashion Week,” said TJ Cowlishaw, FNFD Chief Operations Officer and Runway Producer. “Grace and I are ecstatic to return in 2022 and build on the success of last year’s historical performance.”
AAFW will take place from 9 to 13 May 2022 live at Carriageworks, Sydney, and virtually at AAFW.com.au. Find out more about the program here.