Before this event started the atmosphere was electric and it was wonderful to see all the designers welcoming their friends and family. I’ve been to many fashion events but this one had a different feel, one of warmth, compassion, and inclusiveness.

After the most breathtaking Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony by the Gadigal people, Grace Lillian Lee, the designer and creative director of First Nations Fashion and Design, brought the South Bank Piazza alive with the first runway show featuring only First Nations talent. The show put together music, film, modern native dance, live hip hop and ceremony to produce a high-spirited, immersive experience.

The Indigenous models were absolutely stunning showcasing designs in exquisite, unique printed fabrics that ranged from swimwear to day wear, evening and more avant-garde projects in textile and design. Walking in Two Worlds captured all shapes, sizes, gender, and age ranges, celebrating inclusive beauty.

Each design told a story and was supported by a spectacular visual projection of the models cat-walking and posing in the Australian forests surrounded by beautiful native flora and fauna. It was an impressive addition to have Muggera Dance performances intertwined throughout the runway, their movements complementing the designer pieces seamlessly.

In addition to the fashion itself, the music was a true highlight. I added many of the songs to my Spotify playlist when I got home.

An absolute stand-out moment that brought a tear to my eye was when one designer, hit by the spotlight once her runway had finished, not only stood to acknowledge the performance but celebrated her achievement with traditional dance with one of her models. The audience leapt to its feet and with applause.

First Nations Fashion: Walking in Two Worlds was a magical showcase highlighting the genius of local Indigenous fashion, music, arts and was a joyous celebration of culture. I loved it.

Created and curated by Grace Lillian Lee, a Cairns-based artist, designer and mentor, First Nations Fashion: Walking In Two Worlds is a fascinating concept, an interesting one-off.

The First Nations Fashion & Design show was promoted as being ‘direct from Australian Fashion Week to you – the runway event of the year’.

This was certainly the first fashion show I have ever attended, but ‘fashion discourses’ are such that I had expectations of Parisian-style runways, peopled with glamorous models with New York attitude.

And I also knew from the publicity that I might get to see a showcase of Indigenous dance, music, and film.

The introduction reframed any expectations of this as ‘just a fashion show’.

The audience was encouraged to think about the literally ‘walking in two worlds’ that First Nations people undertake in their daily lives.

The event was a celebration of pride in the craft, design, fashion, style—and of the ability to walk in the words of culture and community, and of commerce and contemporary fashion.

This was an interesting combination of art happening, museum display, shopping, dance performance, videographic art, and hip-hop concert. It was also a chance to celebrate the lives of those who continue to walk in two (or more) worlds.

Certain ‘fashion discourses’ were easily identifiable.

Music maintained an up-tempo beat as the models ‘walked the walk’ and maintained a generally middle-distance gaze.

Audiences responded with cheers and applause as the fabulous, glorious and sometimes intriguing garments passed by.

But the points of difference attracted the biggest cheers: the model who came out to dance alongside her mother/the designer; the opening Welcome to Country and first speaker; the hip hop performance by Kaylah Truth; the smoking dance; and the final gathering of the models, designers, and back-of-house team to cheer and be cheered (and smile!).

Personal highlights included the use of the Piazza space as a circular ‘runway’, the use of video to remind the audience of the inspiration and colours of Country, the diversity of models (although I’d love to have seen a few more smiles), and the sheer quality of the materials and garments.

Most of all, I loved the delight and excitement of the audience when recognising patterns, designs, models, dancers, speakers, and designers.

Was it something I’d go to again? Possibly.

But I have to admit that I’m much more likely to spend my money on theatre, dance and other First Nations work (such as Aunties Fia’fia Night)… or to start saving up to buy textiles produced by some of these talented Australian designers.