More than style: How First Nations fashion is growing in Australia

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Australia Explained

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If you’ve spent any time in Australia, you’ve probably noticed how relaxed the style is. You might notice activewear, surf brands and casual clothes everywhere. But there’s another side to Australian fashion. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander designers have been creating clothes and accessories for thousands of years — and that work is very much alive today. You’ll see it on runways, in global fashion campaigns and in everyday clothing. Find out what makes First Nations fashion different, how it connects to the environment and what you should be aware of if you want to wear it.

Key Points

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have designed clothing and accessories for thousands of years, adapting to climate and celebrating culture, community and stories. 
First Nations designers are proudly represented globally. 
First Nations fashions often include artworks by First Nations artists who are credited and paid. 
Drawing on traditional knowledge, First Nations designers are leading on sustainability.

Where can you find First Nations fashion today?
What makes First Nations fashion different? 
Is First Nations fashion sustainable?
Creating pathways for First Nations creatives
Can I wear Aboriginal brands?

Many First Nations designers still see fashion in this way today, as something that carries story, culture and care for Country into everyday life. 

AUSTRALIA EXPLAINED—FIRST NATIONS FASHION

You can see Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fashion at national events like Australian Fashion Week. Credit: Rob Hookey/Getty Images

Where can you find First Nations fashion today?

For a long time, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fashion was rarely visible in mainstream media. Western-style clothing was pushed through missions, schools and government policies, While First Nations people kept cultural clothing alive in communities and ceremony.

In the past decade, that has begun to change. First Nations designers are now proudly represented around the world.  

You can see Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fashion at national events like Australian Fashion Week, at the annual First Nations runway Country to Couture and featured on the covers of major magazines such as Vogue. Initiatives like First Nations Fashion + Design and the National Indigenous Fashion Awards have helped create more visible, independent platforms for First Nations creatives.

Caption: Artist and designer Grace Lillian Lee employs traditional Torres Strait Island weaving techniques to create her sculptural pieces, as showcased at Paris Fashion Week 2025. Credit: Foc Kan/WireImage/Getty Images

Dunghutti and Anaiwan creative, and founder of online community Aus Indigenous Fashion, Yatu Widders Hunt, remembers how limited representation was when she was growing up in Sydney.

I was also looking for ways to connect to my own identity and also to contemporary expressions of First Nations identity, and I found fashion was a really great way to do that.
Yatu Widders Hunt

Whadjuk Noongar model and Mob in Fashion founder Nathan McGuire says he was often the only Aboriginal person on set when he began modelling.

Today he sees more First Nations talent in the industry.   

“That's about our people being seen and our beauty being appreciated in the country. And you know, it's actually meant to happen,” he says.

Whadjuk Noongar model and Mob in Fashion founder Nathan McGuire. Credit: Nathan McGuire

What makes First Nations fashion different? 

Many First Nations labels describe themselves as story-driven or connected to Country. Here, ‘Country’ refers to land, water, sky, community and culture. 

Designs often link to specific places, languages or cultural themes. 

Prints come from artworks by First Nations artists who are credited and paid. Many brands also work slowly, releasing smaller collections that support sustainability and quality.

Liandra Gaykamangu, a Yolŋu creative director and founder of resort wear label Liandra, says her brand was built to share culture in an open, inviting way. 

We have always championed colour, culture and joy... really using fashion as an open invitation for other people beyond our community to be able to engage and celebrate the diversity of Australia's identity and cultural nuances through the brand.
Liandra Gaykamangu

From the start, each of her collections has carried a story. The pattern on a dress or shirt is rarely just for fun—it can be a conversation starter about culture, history or community. 

Is First Nations fashion sustainable?

Many First Nations designers see their work as part of a much older relationship with land and resources. Traditional clothing practices were based on using only what was needed, respecting animals and plants and understanding seasons. Modern brands are adapting that thinking to today's fashion system. 

Yatu believes First Nations knowledge is crucial for industries trying to respond to climate change and environmental damage. “First Nations designers are leading the way in creating for-profit businesses in ways that are mindful of Countries,” she notes.

For consumers, that can mean choosing clothes that support both culture and more careful, long-term ways of making. 

Yatu Widders Hunt, founder of online community Aus Indigenous Fashion. Credit: Yatu Widders Hunt

Creating pathways for First Nations creatives.

A growing number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-owned labels and studios are creating pathways into paid work across the whole fashion ecosystem. 

Liandra uses her brand to connect remote and regional communities with industry-level opportunities. Through projects and partnerships, her label has helped emerging creatives gain experience and then move into their own careers: “We've had models signed to top Australian agencies, walk international runways, go on to book incredible campaigns beyond and create their own economic independence.”

At a national level, Yatu notes that First Nations businesses are already a major part of the economy that should be supported. 

“We have a really thriving and growing First Nations business sector, we have designers and artists working all across the country, including in remote areas, so you're also supporting First Nations business by buying First Nations fashion.”

Can I wear Aboriginal brands? 

It might be hard to know how to engage with First Nations fashion in a respectful way. Here are some simple tips.

Many First Nations brands clearly state when designs are  ‘ally friendly’, meaning anyone can wear them.  

Some items, usually for ceremony or special cultural roles, are only for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These are often clearly marked online or on tags.  

Many brands share information online or on the tag about the artist, the community and the story behind the design.

“I'd say the majority of First Nations designers create work that is accessible to everyone, so not just Indigenous people,” Yatu explains.  “And I think it's exciting because First Nations storytelling is actually central to Australian identity and I think our culture is extremely generous and warm, and we love and want people to feel proud of that.”

David Jones Indigenous Fashion Projects show during Australian Fashion Week Source: Getty / Jason McCawley for AFW

Nathan sees fashion as a modern, enjoyable way for new migrants to connect with First Nations communities. Buying from a First Nations label, going to a runway show or following designers on social media can all be entry points.  

“As an extension of what is to be a part of Australian culture, this is a really good way to engage with our community.”

First Nations fashion can offer a way to build respect and connection through something as simple as the clothes we wear.  

What is the cultural significance of First Nations weaving?

First Nations languages: A tapestry of culture and identity

Subscribe to or follow the Australia Explained podcast for more valuable information and tips about settling into your new life in Australia.

Do you have any questions or topic ideas? Email australiaexplained@sbs.com.au

Transcript

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SBS acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country and their connections and continuous care for the skies, lands and waterways across Australia.

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You're listening to Australia Explained, an SBS audio podcast helping you navigate life in Australia.

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Hello, I'm Lowanna Grant, executive producer of NITV Radio, and I'll be your host for this special episode of the Australia Explained.

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If you've spent time in Australia, you've probably noticed how relaxed the style is. You might notice activewear, surf brands and casual clothes everywhere. But there's another side to Australian fashion that many people don't hear about when they first arrive.

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander designers have been creating clothes and accessories for thousands of years, and that work is very much alive today. You'll see it on runways, in global fashion campaigns, and also in everyday clothing. In this episode, you'll learn what makes First Nations fashion different, how it connects to the environment and how you can support First Nations designers.

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Before colonisation, First Nations people across Australia developed clothing that suited their climate, environment and way of life. What people wore could show who they were, where they came from, and how they belonged. Many First Nations designers still see fashion in this way today as something that carries story,

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Culture and care for country into everyday life. For a long time, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fashion was rarely visible in mainstream media. Western style clothing was pushed through missions, schools, and government policies, while First Nations people kept cultural clothing alive in communities and ceremony.

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In the past decade, that has begun to change. One person who watched this change is Dunghutti and Anaiwan creative Yatu Widders Hunt. She is the founder of the online community Aus Indigenous Fashion.

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As I was a teen, I was also looking for ways to connect to my own identity and also to contemporary expressions of First Nations identity, and I found fashion was a really great

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way to do that. When I was like a teen, like it was just not even mentioned in fashion magazines at all. It wasn't really accessible to consumers.

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Today, First Nations designers, models, and artists are far more visible but on their own terms. Whadjuk Noongar model Nathan McGuire is the founder of Mob in Fashion.

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That's what it's all about. That's, you know, that's about our people being seen and our beauty being appreciated in the country.

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And you know, it's actually meant to happen.

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So what makes First Nations fashion different? Many First Nations labels describe themselves as story driven or connected to Country. Here, Country refers to land, water, sky, community and culture. Designs often linked to specific places, languages, or cultural themes. Prints come from artworks by First Nations artists who are credited and paid.

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Many brands also work slowly, releasing smaller collections that support sustainability and quality. One designer doing this work is Yolngu creative director Liandra Gaykamangu .

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She owns the resort wear label Liandra.

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We have always championed colour, culture, and joy, really using fashion as an open invitation for other people beyond our community to be able to engage and celebrate the diversity of Australia's identity and cultural nuances through the brand. We have always done our own custom prints, so from

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the very beginning I've always drawn our prints and every collection has a theme attached to it, and those prints then embody the theme.

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If you read the tag or check the website, you can often find a story about Country or community. Traditional First Nations clothing practises used only what was needed and showed respect for animals and plants. Today, First Nations brands bring these ideas into modern fashion.

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They choose better materials, reduce waste, avoid mass production, and build fair relationships with artists and makers. For consumers, buying from First Nations labels can support culture and the environment at the same time. First Nations fashion also creates jobs and skills. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned labels support work for designers,

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models, stylists, photographers, pattern makers, and production teams. Liandra uses her brand to connect remote and regional communities with industry opportunities.

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I'm very passionate about remote and regional Australia, and so the brand is a pillar and a bit of a vessel to be able to tap into and out of remote and regional Australia for creative Indigenous people.

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We've had models signed to top Australian agencies, walk international runways, go on to book incredible campaigns beyond and create their own economic independence, then beyond what we sort of open the door to.

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For communities that have been excluded from industries, this kind of training and paid work can support strong careers.

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At a national level, Yatu notes that First Nations businesses are already a major part of the economy.

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It's important to support First Nations businesses as well. We have a really thriving and growing First Nations business sector. We have designers and artists working all across the country, including in remote areas, so you're also supporting First Nations business by buying First Nations fashion.

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If you're new to Australia, you might ask, how can I engage with First Nations fashion in a respectful way?

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Here are a few simple tips. Many First Nations brands clearly state when designs are ally friendly, meaning anyone can wear them. Some items, usually for ceremony or special cultural roles, are only for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These are often clearly marked.

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Many brands share information about the artist, the community, and the story behind the design. Look on the tag or online. Yatu emphasises this.

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I'd say the majority of First Nations designers create work that is accessible to everyone, so not just Indigenous people, and I think is exciting because First Nations storytelling is actually central to Australian identity. And I think our culture's extremely generous

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and warm and we love and want people to feel proud of that and we see that as central to everyone's identity.

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Nathan sees fashion as a fun way for new migrants to connect with First Nations communities.

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It's another way to experience culture and share in all the different nations that make up this country's stories as an extension of what it is to be a part of Australian culture. This is a good way to

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engage with our community. I think there's so much exploration for that for people who are, you know, new to our country and want to get to know our people more, and they can do it in a really like modern cool way. And then there's also the really traditional, historical story. You get the best of those worlds in our fashion space.

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To get started, why not follow First Nations designers and models on social media or attend a First Nations runway show or exhibition.

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Or you could buy from First Nations owned labels, especially items marked ally friendly. It's a way to experience culture while also learning the deepest stories of this country through something we all share, the clothes we wear.

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Thank you for listening to this episode of Australia Explained, written by Nikyah Hutchings, edited by Melissa Compagnoni. Australia Explained managing editor is Roza Germian, and I'm Lowanna Grant. Until next time.

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This was an SBS audio podcast. For more Australia Explained stories, visit SBS.com.au/Australiaexplained.

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Subscribe or follow the Australia Explained podcast for more valuable information and tips about settling into your new life in Australia. Do you have any questions or topic ideas? Send us an email to australiaexplained at SBS.com.au.

END OF TRANSCRIPT