For the first time in Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia’s 24-year history, the schedule will run the event’s first Australian Indigenous Fashion Showcase.
The show, held on May 15 at Sydney’s Carriageworks in Everleigh, will be presented by the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation (DAAFF) and will showcase designs from five First Nations creatives.
Both Indigenous and non-Indigenous models will walk the runway, while Indigenous stylists, creatives and fashion industry professionals will have the opportunity to produce and manage the show backstage and behind the scenes.
“The Australian Indigenous Fashion Showcase will provide a vibrant platform for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander designers to share their art, design and culture with the international fashion community,” Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation shared on Instagram this week.
The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation is a not-for-profit that provides exciting platforms for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and culture with a reputation for innovation, diversity and cultural integrity.
The announcement of the Indigenous Fashion Showcase is the latest news ahead of the annual event.
In another first for MBFWA, it was last week announced that a new seating initiative would allow anyone to buy a front-row spot for the first time in the event’s history.
While the frow (that’s front row) is normally reserved for industry attendees and guests of designers, a select number of seats in the opening and closing nights, as well as the Indigenous Fashion Showcase, will be available for purchase.
According to Fashion Journal, designers that include Alice McCall, Bassike, and Ginger & Smart will also be offering up a selection of seats to keen attendees.
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia will showcase the Resort 2021 designer collections from May 11 to 15 at Carriageworks. Check out the official MBFWA site for more information.