Maintaining her international reputation, designer Clair Helen Parker continues to offer garments which put First Nations fashion on the global radar.
Parker impressed both new and returning consumers on Wednesday by showcasing her new Saltwater Woman collection as part of Melbourne Fashion Week's Opulent Tastes runway.
Whilst the talented designer was not a part of the ganbu marra runway this year, Parker said she was thrilled to mix things up and showcase her brand's new collection alongside Ngali on the Opulent Tastes runway.
"While I won't be on the ganbu marra runway this year, I've always felt deeply honoured to have been part of it in the past," Helen told Style Up this week.
"It's such a vital and inspiring platform for First Nations designers, and I'll definitely be cheering on everyone involved.
"This year, I'm excited to be showcasing a new wearable art collection alongside deadly Ngali through the Opulent Tastes Runway, which offers a different but equally rich creative space."
When speaking with Helen on her inspiration and curation process behind the new collection, she said not only is the Saltwater Woman collection reflective of her lifelong connection to the islands, but also Country and the broader environments that continue to influence her.
"For the Opulent Tastes Runway, I'm showcasing a new collection that is deeply personal and grounded in storytelling. Each piece is one-of-a-kind wearable art created using silk, hand embroidery, hand sewing and intricate beading," she said.
"The textures, shapes, and movement are all inspired by the natural world, particularly the sea, a reflection of Country and the environments that continue to influence me.
"This collection is also rooted in my lifelong connection to the islands. Growing up, I was always travelling back and forth by boat or plane, and I would often imagine myself underwater, immersed in that dreamy, quiet world below the surface.
"As a child, I was obsessed with Ariel the Mermaid, and every time I visited the islands, people would call out and nickname me Ariel it's a name that's stuck with me ever since."
Helen said she wanted the collection to be practical and free flowing, reflecting her memories of travelling and early childhood imagination.
"Through this collection, I wanted to capture that same sense of wonder and fluidity the feeling of being in water, surrounded by light and movement, memory and magic," she said.
"It's a visual love letter to those journeys, and to the way culture, land, and childhood imagination continue to shape who I am as an artist and designer."
After her recent win at this year's National Indigenous Fashion Awards, Helen said whilst she has been looking forward to Melbourne Fashion Week she has had a busy few months of creating and reflecting.
"The last few months have been such a whirlwind in the best possible way. Winning at the NIFA awards was an incredibly proud moment, and it's brought some amazing new opportunities and collaborations into motion," she said.
"It's also been a time of grounding and reflection, making sure I'm staying connected to the heart of the work and the community that inspires it.
"It's been exciting to see the brand gaining more recognition. I feel a strong responsibility to make sure that as we grow, we continue to uphold our values of cultural integrity, sustainability, and authenticity. The exposure has opened doors, but it's also brought new layers of learning, which I really value."
The Clair Helen brand is set to continue its growth and reputation within the fashion industry with Helen confirming several upcoming projects are currently underway.
"There are a few exciting projects in development. I'm also working on expanding the current collection into new formats and experiences moving beyond garments into broader creative storytelling," she said.
"It's an exciting chapter for the brand."
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