14 July 2021
The Weekly

In 2021, Afterpay Australian Fashion Week held a dedicated First Nations runway on Gadigal Country. Presented by Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation and David Jones, the Indigenous Fashion Projects (IFP) runway brought together some of the nation’s most celebrated First Nations designers. The six growing brands featured on the runway are part of David Jones and IFP Pathways Program. Established in 2020, the Pathways Program initiative provides an opportunity for Indigenous fashion brands to tap into the expertise of leading Australian designers and provide practical experience, insights and advice at all stages of the development of a fashion label. Curated by stylist and founder of Jira Modelling agency Perina Drummond, the show also featured designer brands Kirrikin, Ngali, Native Swimwear, Indii and Maara Collective. These designers receive mentorship from brands such as Kit X, P.E Nation and Bassike. The goal is to nurture and open up business opportunities for Indigenous designers and labels through workshops, seminars and direct mentorships with established Australian designers from the David Jones family.