Maddy Hope-Hodgetts returns to Melbourne Fashion Festival this week to showcase Yapa Mali's latest collection.
Returning to Melbourne Fashion Festival (MFF) for the third year, Yapa Mali will feature as part of the event's Beyond Blak Runway.
Ahead of Wednesday evening's runway, Style Up spoke with Hodgetts about what the press and public can expect from her latest collection.
Recognised for her ongoing passion for both community and craft, the Wangaaypuwan/Ngiyambaa and Wiradjuri woman established Yapa Mali to shine a spotlight on First Nations designers and creatives.
"I'm so happy to be back at MFF this year, especially with the Mob in Fashion team. It feels like family," she said.
"Being my 3rd year with them at MFF, I'm excited to show my growth as a designer and my new collection.
"Also very excited to meet some new designers showing their collections on the Beyond Blak Runway. It's always deadly to see more First Nations talent and craft."
Hodgetts said garments set to feature on the Beyond Blak Runway are an extension of Yapa Mali's recent Bunggan collection.
"This collection is kinda an extension of my last collection, Bunggan, but it's another layer of the story," she said.
"Still telling the story the Bunggan River but particularly a certain place on Wangaaypuwan Country with many scarr trees.
"So it reflects on the relationship between the river and the scar trees, that interconnection of Country."
When it comes to the garments' graphics, hues and overall design, Hodgetts said she continues to be inspired by elements of the environment and her surroundings on Country.
"The prints are earthy and golden, depicting the Kukurr (tree) and thakun (earth/ground) of Muudall reserve out on my Country," she said.
"You'll also see a lot of cultural pieces using materials from trees, such as Kuwanhthaa seeds, barks etc."
Despite being a new mum, Hodgetts has shown no signs of slowing down or taking a back seat in her business.
Despite juggling a baby and managing a business being no easy task, Hodgetts said she is enjoying having her daughter by her side, watching on.
"It's been pretty challenging juggling baby and a business but my craft is also my culture, so I want her to watch me working on pieces, she's like a little sponge, taking it all in," she said.
"She's already inspired me for my next collection as she's named after the wattle tree on Ngiyampaa Country.
"I'll be working on that throughout 2026, this might be the most special story I've shared yet so I really want to give myself a lot of time to create this collection."
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