With several First Nations brands specialising in mens apparel, this month Style Up is spotlighting some of the top male First Nations fashion brands ahead of Father's Dy on Sunday 7 September.
Whether shopping for a Father or a fatherly figure, these brands carefully fuse culture and craft, creating a range of menswear that is both modern and mob focused.
Joseph & James
Established in 2021 by designer Juanita Page, Joseph & James is a ready-to-wear menswear label with the ambition to elevate streetwear with an understated level of sophistication.
Based in Naarm/Melbourne, Juanita, a proud Gooreng Gooreng and South Sea Islander woman, imbues streetwear with a sartorial flair which is both high-end and accessible.
Her designs are detail-centric, focusing on fit, form, and function, blending street silhouettes with premium fabrics and considered detailing.
Aimed at fashion forward men eager to invest in fashionably relevant yet quality made garments, Joseph & James has experienced great success with both younger and older consumers. Utilising a timeless colour palette of primarily neutral hues, the brand has become a one hit wonder with both media, press and the public alike.
House of Darwin
Founded by Shaun Edwards, House of Darwin (HOD) is a clothing label and social enterprise. Known in the fashion industry for their unique clothing collections and collaborations with First Nations artists and creatives, HOD create garments with culture at the core.
HOD collections are great for explorers are eager to invest in clothing and accessories that are as chic as they are functional. With seasonal limited collection drops and collaborations, consumers are advised to invest in pieces they love as soon as they are released as they are known to sell out fast.
Clothing The Gaps
Clothing The Gaps is a Victorian Aboriginal led and controlled, and majority Aboriginal owned business and social enterprise, co-founded by Gunditjmara woman Laura Thompson and Sarah Sheridan.
Whilst the business does cater for all genders, Clothing The Gaps produces and sells a niche range of mens and unisex clothing and accessories. With Clothing The Gaps jumpers being particularly popular, the branded jumpers and knit sweaters make for the ideal gift for the cooler months.
Take Pride Movement
Created by proud Bila-Kalari (Upper Lachlan River) man from the Wiradjuri Nation, Benjamin Thomson, Take Pride Movement has grown to become not only a retail brand, but a movement.
"Take Pride Movement isn't just a brand. It's a statement. A movement. A collective. A big 'screw you' to the doubters, the crabs in the bucket, and anyone who ever tried to keep me small," Thompson says.
"I'm not here to play it safe. I'm not here to fit into a box. This is about taking up space, standing tall, chest out, and owning every single step forward.
"Take Pride Movement (TPM) is like a bag of mixed lollies—each piece has its own flavour, just like the people who wear it."
Selling everything from hoodies and track pants to caps, Take Pride Movement is perfect for those who are constantly on the go, requiring practical clothing that can comfortably take them from one location to the next.
Gali Swimwear
Created by proud Kamilaroi man and volunteer surf lifesaver David Leslie, Gali Swimwear is 100 per cent Aboriginal-owned.
The brand emphasises ethical collaboration with Aboriginal artists, paying royalties for their designs and donating to community projects. Gali Swimwear is also committed to sustainability, using 100 per cent recycled polyester and elastane in their products.
Celebrated in the fashion industry for their wide variety of vibrantly coloured swim briefs, all of Gali's collections embody and reflect the fun and relaxation of Australia's summers.
Selling both swimwear briefs and towels, a piece of Gali is ideal for the father's who love to be active in the water, no matter the season.
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