Blakout!

In 2022, First Nations Fashion and Design presented BLAKOUT!, a night of fashion, dance and the chance to hear the wise words of Mob who are owning the catwalks.

BLAKOUT! began with a Welcome to Country, a smoking ceremony and Yidaki Healing Workshop with Uncle Brendan Kerin.

Taking place in the museum’s Microcars space, the Blak and Deadly Walk Off saw models Josie Baker, Bee Cruse, Luke Currie-Richardson and Perry Mooney strut their stuff against a backdrop of artworks by Shaun Daniel Allen.

In Cover Girl: In Conversation First Nations Fashion and Design’s Grace Lillian Lee and Teagan Cowlishaw led a discussion highlighting fashion’s power to generate positive social change with the iconic cover model Elaine George.

First Nations Fashion and Design 2021/22 runway screenings were accompanied by an interactive discussion with Perry Mooney and Coby Edgar, while Lomas Amini led a panel discussion with Luke Currie-Richardson, Jake Gordon and Jarron Andy on the male First Nations fashion experience.

yButchulla Hip Hop artist Birdz headlined the night’s First Nations music acts alongside a live set from Yuin rapper, producer and radio host DJ Nooky, complemented by a First Nations playlist throughout the night curated by Dobby.

First Nations Fashion and Design is a national voice representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members; creating ongoing access to opportunities, skill development, and industry engagement. As a not-for-profit organisation its core business is supporting the growth of Indigenous fashion.

First Nations Fashion and Design is working towards a self-sustaining ecosystem of First Nations fashion designers, textile artists, jewellery designers, photographers, models, hair and makeup artists, stylists, curators and fashion industry professionals. Its Board of Directors and Executive team are 100% Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.

Its HQ at Powerhouse Ultimo has become a centre for Blak excellence within the fashion industry by providing space for First Nations fashion professionals to participate in activations and creating a gateway for remote communities to access industry opportunities in Australia’s fashion capital.