Fashion FORWARD

Indigenous creatives are thriving, creating new and exciting work that celebrates their rich history, while fostering new talent in the fashion world. But it takes more than beautiful ideas to create successful brands. Luckily, a remarkable group of women have joined together to ensure the First Nations design and fashion industry soars to new heights

When Grace Lillian Lee scored 100 per cent in a wearable arts competition at Cairns High School, she knew she wanted to pursue a career in fashion. Studying at RMIT, she realised how “scary and inaccessible” the fashion industry can be for First Nations people. So she set about changing that, by founding First Nations Fashion + Design in 2019 and hiring an esteemed board of directors to nurture a self-sustaining industry and pave the way for the next generation of creatives. It is our pleasure to introduce the board, along with a showcase of stunning Indigenous designs.

MC: You’re a descendant of the Meriam Mer people of the Eastern Islands of the Torres Strait and grew up in Cairns. What are your earliest memories of fashion?

GLL: When I was younger, we lived across from an op shop where you could fill a bag with clothes for $5. I would fill that bag up so full, and revamp the pieces in my own style.

How did First Nations Fashion + Design (FNFD) begin?

In 2010, I took my grandmother back to the Torres Strait for the first time in 57 years. Being welcomed into the community, meeting family and learning about my heritage made me question my identity and how I express myself. I was studying fashion design at RMIT at the time and I created a collection celebrating my lineage through the act of weaving. Using fashion as a platform to celebrate my identity made me feel liberated and proud of who I am and where I come from. When I launched FNFD in 2019, I wanted to create a safe space for Aboriginal people to engage with fashion and share knowledge.