One of the most highly-anticipated and coveted events of Australian Fashion Week (AFW), this year’s Indigenous Fashion Projects runway was a celebration of culture, community and Country.
This year’s theme, In Relation Way, invited each designer to weave stories of legacy, matriarchy, honour, connection, arrival, and Country through their collection, bringing together a way of being. Now in its fourth year, the Indigenous Fashion Projects (IFP) runway proudly launches Australia’s First Nations designers onto the international stage.
“Country is everything to us. It represents the essence of who we are and where we come from. Community is our people, our spirit and our sense of belonging. Culture is our passion, our fire and our desire to keep pushing for further change in this world.”
MIIMI & JIINDA
Together on Gadigal Country, hosted at Carriageworks, Sydney, the 2024 David Jones Indigenous Fashion Projects (IFP) runway event was an opportunity to celebrate the contemporary creations of the world’s oldest continuous living cultures and to highlight emerging designers in a room full of industry leaders, editors, journalists and influencers. The runway showcased collections from First Nation’s designers Gali Swimwear, Ihraa Swim, Joseph & James, Lazy Girl Lingerie, and Miimi and Jiinda.
About the IFP Pathways Program
Proudly presented by David Jones and Indigenous Fashion Projects, this year’s runway event – In Relation Way – showcased designers from the Pathways Program. Through workshops and mentorship, the Pathways Program is an opportunity for David Jones and other industry experts to share their expertise and nurture the growth of First Nations businesses.
With the wider fashion industry having much to learn from Indigenous designers, who are grounded in over 60,000 years of heritage, the program also provides a platform to engage in the sharing of stories and culture.
Introducing The IFP 2024 Designers
Get to know the designers behind the labels at this year’s David Jones Indigenous Fashion Projects Runway at Australian Fashion Week.
JOSEPH & JAMES (Juanita Page)
“My name is Juanita Page and I’m a proud Gooreng Gooreng and South Sea Islander woman, currently living and working on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country. JOSEPH & JAMES is a place where customers can get something distinct but with longevity in mind—both in design and quality.”
Collection Name: Part Three: The Josephs
In JOSEPH & JAMES’ latest collection, designer Juanita Page explores her generational history; inspired by key eras that her grandfather and father lived through as they each navigated early adulthood as Aboriginal, South Sea Islander and Samoan men in Mackay, Queensland. Both bearers of the name ‘Joseph’, Juanita presents a collection that will serve as a thank you, an appreciation for the sacrifices made by the men that paved the way for her to step into the richness of life and opportunities that were out of reach in their time.
While taking cues from the bygone eras of the 50s, 60s, 80s and 90s—with nods to her own father (pictured right) and grandfather’s styles—Juanita bridges the past and present, interpreting designs through a layer of modernity, whether it be through the fabrication, signature oversized pockets, or street-inspired silhouettes.
Ihraa Swim (Nat Dann)
“I am a Bardi/Nyul Nyul/Nyikina woman from the Kimberley region but grew up in the Pilbara. I am a mother of one and I have had an interest in fashion since the age of 5. Ihraa swim, pronounced “Eye-Rah” is named after my daughter Aarhi (backward). I first dreamt of starting a swimwear label 10 years ago because of her love of fashion and the sea.”
Collection Name: Wildscape
Ihraa Swim is an Australian-made swimwear label with a commitment to sustainable and ethical production practices. Founded by Nat Dann in 2021, Nat envisioned a brand that celebrated her culture while embracing the natural environment of Australia. This brand is breaking boundaries for a new generation of luxury swimwear. The styles and prints of her garments are inspired by her connection to culture, land and environment.
Ihraa Swim’s mission is to educate about indigenous culture and sustainable living through swimwear. Wildscape is a collection that brings the natural world to life in abstract, textured forms. Inspired by the diverse textures of the land, this range reimagines the beauty of nature in modern, innovative ways.
Miimi & Jiinda (Melissa Greenwood and Lauren Jarrett)
Miimi and Jiinda is an Indigenous Australian Art and Design label founded in 2018 by Melissa Greenwood.
Melissa’s natural storytelling talent has earned her recognition as an artist, writer, illustrator and designer. She uses fashion as a way to tell stories, translating her hand-painted artworks onto clothing, using sustainable, high-quality fabrics, produced here on Country in Australia. Lauren, her Miimi (mother), is a Stolen Generation survivor. She is a master traditional weaver, artist, and cultural storyteller sharing traditions and wisdom with her community. They both live and work on their Gumbaynggirr Country, on the mid-north coast of NSW.
Collection Name: Yarilla (To Illuminate)
The 2024 collection is called Yarillia meaning ‘Illuminate’ in the Gumbaynggirr language. This capsule collection consists of runway-ready high-end fashion/wearable art garments that illuminate the beauty of Gumbaynggirr Culture. The designs are inspired by earthy tones representing the intricacies of Miimi Maaral’s (Mother Earth) beautiful cave formations and mountain ranges, and balanced with bright and bold colours of the Gaagal (ocean).
Yarilla explores tailored linen, flowing silks and our bright and bold limited-edition prints. Yarilla was made in conjunction with Miimi & Jiinda’s Mentorship program facilitating and nurturing our Indigenous young talents side by side with our First Nations Professionals.
Lazy Girl Lingerie (Cassandra Pons)
Cassandra is a proud First Nations Waayni woman who is passionate about creating lingerie for all bodies of all shapes, sizes, colours and ages.
She feels grateful to be living on Mununjali country in the beautiful Scenic Rim Queensland, where she runs her brand Lazy Girl Lingerie. Originally from Thul Garrie Waja country (Townsville), she encourages slow fashion with minimal waste in her business thanks to her bespoke, made-to-order philosophy. She aspires to make a change for good in the fashion industry, educating consumers on the ethical and environmental footprint of their purchases.
Collection Name: Ocean Eyes
“A true project of the heart, my mission is to inspire women through my label to celebrate their bodies. I am a proud First Nations woman, a descendant of the Waanyi people and am passionate about creating lingerie for all bodies of all shapes, sizes, colours and ages. I feel that many women could relate to how society’s so-called ‘beauty standards’ are ever-changing and finding new ways to make us feel ‘less than’. I want to create a space where all women feel acknowledged, seen and valued.”
“Ocean Eyes is a collection inspired by caring for Country, in particular our beautiful ocean and the connection we feel to the sea. The collection feels ethereal and ambient with natural cotton fabrics brought to life in the understated glamour of Lazy Girl Lingerie’s signature style.”
GALI Swimwear (David Leslie)
“I am a proud Kamilaroi man. My family comes from Coonabarabran in north-western NSW.”
“I live in Bondi (on Gadigal and Bidjigal lands) and connect with the coast as a volunteer surf lifesaver with North Bondi SLSC. This connection to water is part of the inspiration behind GALI. GALI, in Kamilaroi language, means water. Naming the brand GALI was my way of connecting my love for the water with my culture and passion for First Nations art.”
Collection Name: Patterns of Country
GALI’s latest collection is a collaboration with Barkinji and Malangapa artist Jasmine Miikika Craciun. This collection speaks to the deep respect our communities hold for Country, and for the importance of sustainability in preserving what we have for our future generations.
“Jasmine developed these beautiful and intriguing prints by taking photographs of Country,” says David, “which we’ve then edited to play with colour and dimensions – turning them into something new. Most people associate Indigenous art with paintings, so we really wanted to expand people’s understanding and appreciation for what contemporary Indigenous art looks like.”
We acknowledge the Gadigal People as the Traditional Custodians of the Country where we are gathered. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, recognise their continuing connection to the land and waters, and that sovereignty was never ceded.