Whilst tranquil in design and colourway, First Nations fashion brand Ngali gained the attention of both consumers and critics with an engaging runway at last week's Melbourne Fashion Week.
On the ground in Melbourne to showcase the brands new Durinya collection, Style Up caught up with Ngali founder and designer Denni Francisco ahead of the brands runway reveal.
Although a busy yet rewarding time for Fransisco and her team, the talented designer said she enjoys returning to the undeniable buzz and energy of Melbourne Fashion Week (MFW).
"It is always so great to be a part of MFW. There is such a great buzz of excitement in the city with so many events, all connected to the industry one way or another," she said.
"I am so grateful for the opportunity to celebrate all the creativity together."
Walking the Refined Edit catwalk with much ease and authenticity, Ngali models showcased the brand's new Durinya collection - a collection Fransisco says echoes the brand's design ethos.
"The Durinya collection showcases the versatility of our soft drapey kaftans when teamed with one of our collection staples - pant sets," she said.
"The collection reinforces our design ethos of taking each (of) our collections on a journey, thereby supporting what has gone before and looking to what is yet to come. Less is more, and beautifully so."
With a busy schedule for the remainder of 2024 and new projects set to be announced next year, Fransisco stressed the importance of basking in the present, staying grounded and taking time out to be on Country.
"There is always something going on in our industry of course! It's important to experience the enjoyment of the present as we prepare for what is to come," she said.
"Taking time to be out (on) Country is a conscious decision to stay grounded, replenish energy and be open for opportunities that call to the core of our business and our vision.
"The work is in place to begin the new year and that is quite exciting as our Autumn/Winter collection comes together.
"We have a couple of overseas opportunities to prepare for and next year will come with 2 key collaborations - which we are super excited to throw ourselves into."
Since launching in 2018 Ngali has grown into a label with industry-wide status.
With ongoing projects and collaborations pushing the successful First Nations brand into media's spotlight, plenty in the fashion industry are looking forward to seeing Ngali grow in 2025.
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