Looking to avoid mass retail chains and update your wardrobe with beautiful, locally-designed and made clothes, shoes and accessories? We have just the brands you are looking for.
From swimwear and accessories, to dresses and jewellery, we’re shining the light on five incredible First Nations fashion brands that have a thoughtful, style-forward collections that you will want to shop ASAP.
Haus Of Dizzy
Add a splash of colour and joy to your outfit with proud Wiradjuri woman Kristy Dickinson’s statement designs. Celebrating Indigenous culture and drawing on Dickinson’s 20 years of experience, choose from a range of bold earrings, necklaces, hair accessories and more – all designed and assembled in Melbourne.
Kamara Swimwear
This bright and distinctive luxury swimwear brand, owned by sisters Kirsty and Naomi, pays tribute to their Gugu Badhun and Gudjala heritage. Created after Naomi was diagnosed with melanoma in a bid to combine style and sun safety, their unique and ethically made pieces are manufactured in Australia. For that extra feel-good factor, purchasing from Kamara sees them donate $1 from each sale to either the Melanoma Institute Australia, Indigenous Literacy Foundation or the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation.
Liandra Swimwear
Eco-conscious and ethically minded, this Australian swim and resortwear label uses 100 per cent authentic prints that are reversible and made from recycled plastic bottles. Creative director and founder, Liandra Gaykamangu, is a Yolngu woman from East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. “Liandra was created as a vessel to move between two worlds,” she says. “After five-and-a-half years, I am so incredibly proud that we are finally at a place where we can also make on-the-ground impact that matches our broader social impact.”
Maara Collective
With sleek tailoring at its core, Australian luxury resortwear brand Maara Collective is collaborative in their approach to design. The name refers to “hands” in the Yuwaalaraay and Gamilaraay language groups, honouring the many people involved in the creative process. Maara Collective was launched in 2019 and works closely with Indigenous artists, drawing inspiration from country to share new and untold stories. Maara’s Yuwaalaraay creative director Julie Shaw has already gone on to win many awards, including Australian Fashion Laureate for Indigenous Designer of the Year in 2021.
Kirrikin
Seamlessly combining art and fashion, Kirrikin is a proudly 100 per cent Aboriginal-owned brand that sees luxury accessories meet contemporary Indigenous Australian artworks. Founded by Amanda Healy, a proud Wonnarua woman, to address the shortage of authentic Indigenous products, Kirrikin roughly translates to “Sunday’s best clothes”. With a range including everything from resortwear to scarves and menswear in fabrics such as silk, chiffon and cashmere, this is the perfect one-stop shop for considered gift buying.
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