With sustainability and community at its core, Ngali stands as a powerful passage to connect its wearer with a millennia of story-telling and culture - giving life to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art across the nation.
Set to take its designs to the heart of the Big Apple, Ngali Creative Director and Designer, Denni Francisco sat down with Style Up to discuss the brand's participation at the We Wear Australian x Australia Post showcase in 2025.
Being one of 12 Australian brands to take part in a week-long residency during New York Fashion Week in February, Francisco expressed her excitement about expanding the brand's horizons alongside some of the nation's most acclaimed fashion houses.
"We will be presenting our collection to consumers in New York City as a direct-to-consumer activation during New York Fashion Week," Francisco said.
"The opportunity to expand our reach in promoting and celebrating our culture, to a global audience is always an important aspect and included in the vision that we have for Ngali.
"We have so much to celebrate as the longest continuous living culture in the world and the opportunity to showcase that and celebrate that more widely is a valuable opportunity."
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For many Australian brands, a marker of success is breaking into international markets, with Paris, New York, London and Milan being some of the most renowned fashion capitals in the world.
This upcoming showcase highlights the power of a collaborated effort, offering a blueprint for sustainable success on a global scale.
"In today's challenging economic climate, it's vital to support our homegrown brands and help them expand internationally. Our partnership with Australia Post provides the tools and infrastructure needed for Australian designers to thrive globally," says Creative Director of We Wear Australian, Kelly Atkinson.
While eager to take Ngali to the next level, as the brand's Founder, Francisco highlights the "invaluable" importance of understanding the US market before taking a leap.
"It will give us the opportunity to speak directly to our potential international customers and learn more about how they respond to us as a First Nation business so whilst there will be important commercial elements, the opportunity to gather important data on customer behaviour in one of the world's largest cities will be invaluable," she said.
For Ngali, Francisco carefully curates each piece to honour the unique artistry of every silhouette.
By working with artists such as Lindsay Malay, Keedan Rigney, Jason Mulholland, Josh Deane and Laura Brown to name a few, the brand translates cultural celebration and story-telling into premium clothing.
"Our vision has always been to expand the reach of our stories and the artists we work with and to celebrate our culture globally," Francisco told StyleUp.
"This gives us the opportunity to do that supported by Australia Post and We Wear Australian. It offers the potential to grow further awareness of our brand whilst targeting specific commercial outcomes."
Guided by the principles of Yindayamarra, the proud Wiradjuri woman's approach to fashion is deeply rooted in respect - a journey which has embodied thoughtfulness and a profound connection to Country into each piece.
Speaking on the future of First Nations fashion and businesses, Francisco highlighted the importance of evolving priorities and daring to dream bigger.
"I think for all of us as First Nation businesses We need to be moving beyond runways or exhibitions and start to evaluate these opportunities against commercial outcomes. That is where the future lies for us when we seek to secure real economic prosperity and independence."
Ngali was the first Indigenous solo brand to showcase at Australian Fashion Week and has made waves with its standout appearances at high-profile events like the Kirrikin Foundation's Travelling Runway, where its designs graced Australian House in London and were presented before royalty at The Hague.
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The brand has also been a prominent feature in top-tier runways at Melbourne Fashion Week and the Melbourne Fashion Festival.
Now, Ngali is set to make its highly anticipated debut in New York, marking an exciting new chapter in its journey.
