Marking its first appearance at Melbourne Fashion Week, First Nations brand Van Ermel Scherer has starred on MFW's iconic ganbu marra runway.
Renowned for profiling the industry's top Indigenous designers, the ganbu marra runway was the perfect opportunity for Van Ermel Scherer to showcase its designs to both local and visiting consumers and press.
Founded by proud Larrakia woman Verity Van Ermel Scherer, Van Ermel Scherer is a swim and resort wear house. The brand pays tribute to the designer's late grandmother, Valerie Van Ermel Scherer (Mattie Frith), a Stolen Generations survivor whose creative legacy lives on through the house's signature kaftans and bespoke textile storytelling.
Fresh off the back of debuting at Australian Fashion Week, the brand has quickly gained traction in the First Nations fashion community.
"It's been an incredible few months for VES," designer Verity Van Ermel Scherer told Style Up.
"Following our debut at Australian Fashion Week earlier this year, we've been focused on developing the next chapter of the brand, growing our collections and creating more opportunities to share our story.
"It's been a really special journey, balancing the creative side of fashion with building a business that has a strong cultural foundation and a purpose beyond the clothes themselves."
Scherer was thrilled to have been able to share the runway with other First Nations creatives.
"This will be VES's first time on the Melbourne Fashion Week runway, which is incredibly exciting," she said
"Following our Australian Fashion Week debut, being part of the ganbu marra runway feels like a natural next step for the brand.
"I'm particularly excited that my first Melbourne Fashion Week experience will be alongside other First Nations creatives. Opportunities like this allow us to share our individual stories while contributing to something much bigger than ourselves."
Scherer said the collection featured on the runway offered something for everyone.
"The collection brings together swimwear and resortwear, featuring expressive prints, earthy tones and fluid silhouettes," she said.
"What makes this runway particularly exciting is the theme, Ghetto Opera, and the creative vision of Lindyn Rowland, who is leading the creative direction and styling for the show.
"I love the idea of seeing my work through another creative's lens and being part of something that pushes boundaries and celebrates individuality."
"There is so much talent, creativity and storytelling within our First Nations communities, and being able to share a runway with other First Nations designers is something I feel very proud of," she said.
"For me, fashion is a powerful way to share our stories on our own terms. Every designer brings their own experiences, cultural connections and creative perspective, and there is something really special about creating space for all of those stories to be seen and celebrated together.
"I'm proud to be part of a generation of First Nations creatives who are building businesses, creating opportunities and contributing to the future of Australian fashion while remaining connected to our heritage."
Growing the brand further in 2026, Scherer hopes to build VES into an internationally recognised Indigenous luxury resortwear label.
"We're focused on growing VES thoughtfully, introducing new capsule collections and expanding our reach through new partnerships and retail opportunities," she said.
"We're also continuing to explore collaborations with First Nations artists, ensuring that storytelling and cultural connection remain central to what we create.
"My long-term vision is to build VES into an internationally recognised Indigenous luxury resortwear label while honouring my grandmother's legacy and creating something meaningful for future generations.
"There's a lot more to come, and I'm excited to see where this next chapter takes us."
For more fashion, arts, culture and lifestyle news subscribe for free to the Style Up newsletter.
