Held last week, the 17th iteration of the Brisbane Fashion Festival has again showcased First Nations talent after welcoming several established Indigenous models to its catwalk.
With names including Elaine George, Sené Maluwapi, Ruby Hunter Brown and Guyala Bayles bringing a unique walk to the runway at the annual fashion event, which continually strives to provide greater representation and opportunities for not just models, but all Indigenous creatives.
For proud Malu Kiwai woman of the Samu and Gaidai Clans, Sené Maluwapi, the Brisbane Fashion Festival (BFF) runway is one she is quite familiar with – having walked for numerous designers and brands in 2023.
Striving to use her her modelling career to extend the acknowledgment of First Nations and Pasika people in creative spaces, the talented model is a passionate about advocating for Indigenous representation in the Australian fashion industry as well as spreading awareness about the Climate Change impacts of her Indigenous community, Torres Strait Islands also known as Zenadh Kes.
Maluwapi said her return to the BFF catwalk was an opportunity she was thrilled to take part in.
Aside from the runway, Maluwapi was also excited to act as one of the festival's official ambassadors.
"Being a part of the Brisbane Fashion Festival and representing my community allows younger generations to see themselves in spaces where they're often underrepresented. It fills me with pride and joy to serve as a role model for them, while also honouring our older generations by keeping our culture strong and visible in these spaces," she said.
"My Indigenous heritage and culture deeply influence my role as a Festival ambassador by allowing me to keep our traditions strong and alive. It provides me with the opportunity to be a leader for our community, ensuring our voices are heard and our culture is celebrated.
"Being a Brisbane Fashion Festival ambassador enables me to connect with our community in a unique and meaningful way, fostering pride and unity among our people."
On the topic of diversity and greater opportunity for First Nations creatives within the fashion and creative industry, Maluwapi said she is hoping to see diversity progress further than a trend, but rather an influential movement of ongoing change.
"I hope that diversity in the fashion industry becomes more than just a trend or a response to political moments," she said.
"Brands should genuinely book people of color not to check a box, but because we bring real talent that is often overlooked in favour of tokenism.
We are equals and deserve to be valued for our skills, not singled out for our backgrounds."
Another model returning to BFF this year is proud Aboriginal woman from Dharrowal Country, Ruby Hunter Brown.
"I've been walking in shows for over 20 years now and it's a testament to how far the industry has come that I still can be a part of events like BFF," Brown said.
"Diversity in the Fashion Industry is developing beyond just different representations of cultures and race and the melting pot of looks that encompasses to also include representations of differing ages, body types and backgrounds and it's a pleasure to be a part of it within an industry I love."
Joining friend and fellow model Sené Maluwapi as a festival ambassador, Brown is determined to encourage and motivate the next generation of Indigenous models to really believe in themselves, their talents and the opportunities that come their way.
"I feel like there is more responsibility to be a good role model and offer any support I can to help the next generation of Indigenous models cement their position within the industry," she said.
"I think seeing more young Indigenous models like Sene making a name for themselves and knowing they have a bright career future is a collective achievement for Indigenous representation and community."
When discussing what she wishes to see from the industry moving forward, Brown said she hopes to see diverse representation evolve beyond tokenism.
"My wish would be that in the future diverse representation continues to evolve beyond tokenism to become just the norm," Brown said.
"That by having more opportunities for diverse talent it attracts a bigger pool of people into the industry and allows them to have long and successful careers."
Queensland's largest and most prestigious fashion runway event, this year BFF ran over six days from Sunday 25 to Friday 30 August.
Hosted in the heart of Brisbane City, in King George Square and City Hall, the Festival welcomed thousands of guests throughout the week.
Brisbane Fashion Festival director, Mr Lindsay Bennett, was thrilled to announce initial plans for the 2024 event earlier this year.
"Brisbane Fashion Festival is Queensland's premier annual fashion event, providing a world-class stage to celebrate our local fashion industry," Bennett said.
"Each year the Festival promotes the best Queensland designers and retailers and the brightest emerging talent, alongside some of the most coveted names in Australian fashion; connecting our local creatives with industry insiders, media, and importantly, an audience of fashion lovers and potential customers."
With the calibre of Indigenous models, designers and creatives growing year upon year, BFF is progressively moving forward when it comes to both diversity and First Nations representation.
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