From international runways to press interviews and new business ventures, it certainly has been a busy month for celebrated First Nations Fashion brand Kirrikin.
Further adding to the brand's celebrations this month, was Kirrikin's presentation at Melbourne Fashion Week (MFW) on Wednesday evening.
No stranger to the popular fashion event, Wednesday's presentation happened to be Kirrikin's fifth time showcasing their designs since founder Amanda Healy launched the brand in 2014.
Whilst this may be a returning runway event for Healy and the brand, this year saw Kirrikin create further conversation amongst guests and media with the presentation of their recently launched YES collection.
"I think this is the fifth year I have been to MFW, this year my collection is called the YES collection, it is a story of hope, and resilience. The great variety of our people and the creative culture we have in our communities. We showcase the variety and uniqueness of our people and art," said Kirrikin founder Amanda Healy.
"It was named with a great wish for change and inclusion in our country – sadly not to be. Now, it is YES to our future, to our work, to our resilience, and our want for change for the better – I am still not sure how we can achieve that, but we will."
When discussing how this year's Melbourne Fashion Week has welcomed over 10 First Nations designers to the runway, Healy said she is thrilled to be apart of this industry shift, saying she is pleased to see a variety of First Nations creatives coming together and utilising one another's talents.
"It is fantastic to see the incredible talent and hard work that comes with these showings. I love to see how people interpret our stories and how that is presented on the runway. Too deadly," she said.
"I particularly love it when we have our gorgeous models on the runway, it is a very special buzz when that happens."
Whilst last nights runway was quite the talking point, Kirrikin has also made several headlines this month for the brands international travels to London, the Hague, Vienna, Budapest and Dubai.
"We visited London, the Hague, Vienna and Budapest. We were home for about a week when we went to Dubai Fashion week, and the Cairo Project in Cairo. So it has been a very busy month for us," Healy told Style Up.
Whilst this trip was about opportunities and exposure, Healy also stated that the building of ongoing relationships through dance and play, was vital in promoting Indigenous Australia and engaging in traditional cultures.
"We have created interest in our various brands and started some conversations that will create longer-term relationships in the places visited. We continue to tell our stories and promote Indigenous Australia, as well as celebrate Free Trade Agreements with the various DFAT offices overseas," she said.
"More that that, we took some amazing Indigenous creatives in support of our works, who danced, played yidiki and displayed artwork in the sites we visited. It opened their minds to other possibilities and increased their professional practice and profile in an international setting.
"It is an amazing experience to present our stories in front of 200 or 300 people from a different part of the world, with limited support – it made us realise we can do just about anything."
Despite already having a busy 2023, Healy and the team are currently working on Kirrikin's next collection, which of course will bring something different to the infamous Australian brand once again.
"We are currently working on our next collection, not to give too much away, but it will have a very special WA feel to it, with all the beautiful colours of the SW of WA," she said.
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