First Nations-led label Ihraa Swim is honouring Country in its debut collection

“This collection is proof that anything is possible and I hope it inspires young women in our community to dream big.”

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.

Last year, Nat Dann watched the first-ever First Nations runway take place at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week. Fast-forward to 2022, and the First Nations Designer has a fully-fledged swimwear label, Ihraa Swim, which will be making its runway debut on this year’s First Nations runway.

It feels like a full-circle moment for Nat, and it’s come out of a period of struggle; to deal with the feelings of isolation and despair that COVID triggered, she found herself daydreaming about creating a swimwear label, visualising all the incredible places she’d wear her designs.

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The result is a vibrant swimwear range made from recycled plastics and eco-ink that positions sustainability and ethics at the forefront of its brand. Read on to find out more about Nat’s journey as a designer and how she brought Ihraa Swim to life.

Please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us where you are from.

I’m Nat Dann, founder and designer of Ihraa Swim. I’m a proud Bardi, Nyul Nyul, Nyikina woman who grew up in Port Hedland. I’ve always had a love for fashion and have wanted to become a fashion designer since I was five years old.

Tell us about your collection and what we can expect to see at the First Nations Fashion and Design show.

This collection is eclectic, playful and unique. The print represents kinships and connection to Country. You can expect to see a diverse range of designs, with both modest and more daring options.

What inspired you to start Ihraa Swim?

Prior to founding Ihraa Swim, I worked in the mining industry and then child protection. These fields never fed or inspired my creative side and I felt like I wasn’t fulfilling my true calling. I’ve always felt drawn to fashion, particularly swimwear.

I’m a saltwater woman, so I grew up by the sea and spent a lot of time at the beach. I was constantly in search of the perfect bikini, but could never find anything I loved. For me, it was always about the prints. When I did find styles I liked, I found the prints to be lacking uniqueness. I love wearing one-of-a-kind garments that nobody else has. I wanted to create swimwear that told a story, so Ihraa Swim was born.

Talk us through the process of creating this particular collection.

When I was creating this collection, it was the beginning of the COVID outbreaks, lockdowns were happening all over the world and everything felt like it was changing. It was a very stressful time trying to adjust to this new ‘normal’, and I wanted everything to go back to pre-COVID times. That period was very dark and isolating; I felt trapped and uninspired.

Creating this collection was an escape from my reality, it brought the fun and innocence back into my life.  I’d sit up at night designing and dreaming up the beautiful destinations I’d wear these garments.

What does this particular collection mean to you?

This collection is very special. It came to life despite obstacle after obstacle thrown my way. I was living remotely, I had a lack of support and resources and I didn’t know how to get this project off the ground.

It’s also special because it’s been created in collaboration with Bobbi Lockyer, one of my closest friends. She knows me well and understood perfectly how to merge my eclectic personality into the print while keeping the essence of her own style.

Bobbi and I grew up in the same town together. I think there’s something pretty powerful about that. We’re two little girls from Port Hedland who had a dream – and now we’re launching our fashion labels together on Australia’s largest fashion runway. This collection is proof that anything is possible and I hope it inspires young women in our community to dream big.

What were the major points of inspiration for your collection, and more broadly you as a designer?

My inspirations were Country and human connection, mixed in with a splash of colour. This collection was created during the first emergence of COVID… so I drew inspiration from every aspect of that. I was influenced by my isolation, the times I spent out on Country and the time I spent with friends and family. I express myself by testing the boundaries of colour and shapes.

What does it mean to be involved in the First Nations runway at Australian Fashion Week?

Last year saw the first-ever First Nations runway at Australian Fashion Week. It was a historic moment – not only for those who took part in it, but for the broader Indigenous community. Watching our people showcase culture through creativity – and models being recognised on the most prestigious runway in Australia – made me very proud. This year I get to be part of it, and it doesn’t get much better than that!

What part does sustainability play in your design practice? And other ethical considerations?

When I founded Ihraa Swim, sustainability and ethical practices were at the forefront of my mind. As an Aboriginal person, there is a cultural obligation to care for the earth, and it was important to embed this ethos into my brand.

Having an Australian-based, ECA-accredited manufacturer was incredibly important to me because of transparency. I wanted to make sure I was informed and I didn’t feel comfortable using manufacturers that labelled themselves as ethical without having the accreditation. Also, all of my fabrics and packaging are made from recycled plastics.

Who do you think is most exciting in First Nations fashion right now?

I’m excited about every single designer, model and creative in this space! But I have to say, I am watching in awe of Grace Lilian Lee and Teagan Cowlishaw. The platform and pathways they are creating here to develop our mob are very important.

What’s next for you?

This year I will be undertaking studies in fashion and textile merchandising to further develop as a designer. I’m particularly interested in designing swimwear for the NFT [non-fungible tokens] space. I think this is the direction the world is heading, and I want to move with it, so watch this space!

Ihraa Swim is launching soon, head here to keep up to date with the label.