FIRST NATIONS ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMME

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

It’s designed to provide employment pathways within the fashion industry that support First Nations self-determination and promote a greater understanding and appreciation of their rich cultural heritage – all in collaboration and consultation with First Nations community groups. The Festival achieves this by:

First Nations Runway: a dedicated Premium Runway for emerging First Nations designers and artisans
Designer Integration: spotlighting established First Nations designers across the entire Premium Runway Series
Career Pathways: paid Festival roles and mentoring for First Nations creative, marketing and event professionals
First Nations Performers: showcasing a rich schedule of First Nations music performers and entertainers throughout our programme
Independent Events: supporting local First Nations creatives to participate in our grassroots Independent Programme

The First Nations Engagement Programme provides a platform for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fashion designers, artists, performers and professionals to showcase their talent, build their careers and connect with larger audiences.

INSIDE OUR 2025 PARTNERSHIP

With the support of Architectus and Slattery, central to this Programme is the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival x Mob in Fashion Pathways Programme, which creates paid placements for First Nations creatives and event professionals across the Festival.

In 2025, these roles included: assistant stylist, Grace Evans-Craig; makeup artist, Louise Stuart; journalist, Kimberley Lovegrove; assistant stylist and costume designer Renee Henderson.

Participants from the Pathways Programme were instrumental in delivering one of this year’s most powerful shows, the Back in Blak Runway curated by Mob in Fashion, which also featured musician Jada Weazel performing pre- and during the runway and multi-media artist ENOKi who designed the bespoke runway carpet with Godfrey Hirst.

We proudly showcased 14 First Nations designers across our whole Premium Runways Series: Banbu, Corin Corcoran, Delvene Cockatoo-Collins, Gali Swimwear, By Josh Deane, Kaninda, Lychee Alkira, Miimi & Jiinda, Take Pride Movement, Yapa Mali.

“Supporting First Nations designers has been the highlight of our four-year partnership with the Festival, and the Back in Blak runway is a firm favourite on our yearly calendar.”

— Ruth Willson, Chief Customer Officer and Sector Lead Public, Architectus

“We’re proud to have supported PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival’s First Nations Engagement Programme for four consecutive years. Partnerships like this play a powerful role in driving lasting change – by celebrating culture through design, amplifying First Nations voices, and creating real pathways for emerging talent.”