Our artwork tells the story of two First Nations cultures coming together as one. HB: What are you proudest of with this runway and collection?ĬP: I am proud of my print collaboration with artist Caleb Nichols-Mansel, inspired by our shared cultural basket weaving practices. This speaks to the female empowerment ethos of the brand, encouraging women to unapologetically be themselves. The collection feels bold and powerful, infusing these feelings into my designs knowing Lazy Girls can adorn themselves in these feelings too when wearing Lazy Girl Lingerie. HB: What is the story you wanted to tell through this collection - and how does it fit into the overarching narrative of the brand?ĬP: Homecoming is a collection inspired by my heritage as a First Nations Waayni woman, as well as an ode to inspiring women to come home to themselves. I sourced beautiful, bold fabrics that reflected this, wanting to transform them into lingerie that transcends the wearer into their most confident self when wearing them. Harper’s BAZAAR: What was the starting point of your design process for this collection?Ĭassandra Pons: When designing my collection, I drew inspiration from the natural landscapes of the area where my family descends from (Waanyi country) and where I now reside (Mununjali country). Related: All the best street style from AAFW 2023 Our elders would never have dreamed of opportunities like these.”īelow, discover more about each brand, the inspirations behind each collection, and what each designer is proudest of following their runway appearances for Indigenous Fashion Projects. “To be showcasing alongside other Indigenous brands makes me emotional and proud,” she said. Melissa Greenwood of Miimi & Jiinda summarised the feeling in the room best when she spoke to BAZAAR Australia/New Zealand in the leadup to Fashion Week. Since being established in 2021, the Indigenous Fashion Projects runway has been an annual highlight in the way it brings Indigenous creatives and allies together to share in Indigenous storytelling, and this year was no different. Before the models and designers took to the runway for a finale greeted with enthusiastic applause, singer Jessica Mauboy returned to the IFP runway for the second year running - this year joined by spoken word artist Melanie Mununggurr for a deeply moving performance that inspired chills. Notable standouts included the slick tonal tailoring of JOSEPH & JAMES, the laidback streetwear vibes by Gammin Threads, and the bespoke prints of mother-and-daughter duo Miimi & Jiinda. Across all brands, there was a common thread of rich colours and vibrant prints, many of which were inspired by traditional art practices. That storytelling was alive on the runway, as seven First Nations fashion labels - Lazy Girl Lingerie, GALI Swimwear, Gammin Threads, Ihraa Swim, JOSEPH & JAMES, KAMARA Australia, and Miimi & Jiinda - offered collections that spoke to their individual experiences of culture and Country. “ an opportunity to share our story, and respectful representation of this country’s First Nations culture through art and fashion,” agreed Naomi Collings of KAMARA Australia. “I believe indigenous fashion as a collective, has a lot to offer the Australian Fashion scene, especially in terms of sustainable practices and storytelling,” designer Nat Dann of Ihraa Swim, who showcased her designs for the second year in a row this AAFW, told Harper’s BAZAAR Australia/New Zealand in the leadup to the runway. In Dreamtime lore, the rainbow serpent gave life to Country at AAFW for the David Jones Indigenous Fashion Projects runway, the serpent made for a reminder of the sanctity and importance of Indigenous storytelling in its many forms. ON THE THIRD night of Afterpay Australian Fashion Week (AAFW), a rainbow serpent unfurled across the floor of Carriageworks Gallery I in neon light. ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES FOR AAFW
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