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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: It’s remiss to acknowledge that the first 13 years of the Australian Fashion Laureate gravely underrepresented the 65,000+ years of First Nations history embedded into the tapestry of its industry. However, it seems that the powers at be are making up for lost time, with the breadth and beauty of First Nations fashion placed in the spotlight through a new category; the “Indiegnous Designer of the Year” award.
In the third year since the foundation of the category, Ngali’s Denni Francisco, a proud Wiradjuri woman, was announced as the incumbent. A prize that is widely regarded as Australia’s most prestigious pinnacle of success within the field of fashion.
Yet, for Francisco—who video called in from Dubai Fashion Week to accept the honour—being championed by her community is something that underpins every facet of her design methodology.
Ngali literally translates to ‘we’ or ‘us’ in an array of Australian Aboriginal languages, with Francisco’s ethos rooted in the mantra “together we create”.
This message was one she communicated to us all today. Across borders, and through a pixilated screen, Francisco reminded us of this singular fact: “We never do anything individually, it’s always a collective”.
As an industry, we gathered on Gadigal land to recognise the achievements and accolades of those pushing the needle forward. However, for the designer (who was previously nominated in the category in its inaugural year), that description is not quite fitting for the magnitude of work she’s put in to drive representation of First Nations fashion on a global scale. (And no, calling in from the United Arab Emirates isn’t just a rockstar move, but her dedication to make wearable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art show up everywhere and wherever).
Ngali made history this year as the first First Nations designer to stage a solo runway show on schedule during Australian Fashion Week. The brand may also make history by being bestowed an award in the same year as First Nations voices are enshrined constitutionally with a Voice To Parliament.
But if Francisco’s acceptance speech signals anything; is that a step in the right direction towards an authentically diverse and inclusive fashion industry is one we must take together.
