Melbourne Fashion Week’s Ganbu Marra Runway was an immersive celebration of First Nations creativity

“It’s so wonderful to see mob celebrated on one of Melbourne’s biggest fashion stages.”

Last night, Melbourne Fashion Week’s colourful Ganbu Marra Runway returned for another year. Celebrating Blak excellence in the emerging Australian fashion scene, the show was set to the moving visuals of The Lume’s expansive Connections exhibition. And as an official media partner of this year’s Melbourne Fashion Week, Fashion Journal was in attendance to experience the immersive display of First Nations talent.

As the world’s largest digital art gallery, The Lume curated Connections to tell the story of Australia’s dynamic and enduring cultural history. Bathed in light from the swirling projections, the Ganbu Marra Runway showcased 16 First Nations artists and designers. Names included Nungala Creative, Kaninda, Clair Helen, Wuurn of Kanak, Ginny’s Girl Gang and more.

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“Ganbu Marra has always been a standout show for me at Melbourne Fashion Week, and given what has been a deeply painful and tumultuous time for First Nations people these past few months, it felt particularly moving to celebrate the incredible designs of talented Mob from across the nation,” says Ella Taverner, Fashion Journal’s Partnerships and Campaign Manager, of last night’s show. “Set among a backdrop of colourful artworks and metre-wide murals, there was a real spiritual energy present that felt all-encompassing.”

 

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Standouts included Yarrenyty Arltere Artists’ structured dresses and hand-drawn prints, MumRed’s intricate woven accessories and Elverina’s dramatic floor-sweeping gowns. Attendees enjoyed wines from Mitchelton while models moved across the projection-laden floor.

Styled by Yorta Yorta, Gomeroi and Wiradjuri creative Anastasia Keshen, the show had a contemporary, relaxed feel. “Ganbu Marra’s second year was bathed in community, celebration, and breathtaking projections,” Melbourne Fashion Week wrote in an Instagram caption.

 

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“Beyond the striking designs themselves, I always love taking inspiration from the beauty looks storming down the runway, and last night was no exception,” Ella says. “Space buns and finger waves adorned heads, while pops of gold and silver eye makeup only accentuated the runway’s bright colour palette. From stylists to designers, makeup artists to models, it’s so wonderful to see mob celebrated on one of Melbourne’s biggest fashion stages.”

Browse the Melbourne Fashion Week program here.