Starting the week strongly, First Nations designers have officially opened Melbourne Fashion Week 2026.
Taking place on Monday at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), the event's all-Indigenous ganbu marra runway was the first on the program.
Renowned for providing a platform for emerging First Nations designers, the ganbu marra runway is not only a reflection of talent but also culture, and how the two intersect in creative storytelling.
The runway featured the likes of Delvene Cockatoo-Collins, Ebony Noire, Kaninda, Marnin Studio, Atyene Clothing, OUT OF HAND x Lisa Waup, Rowland Vision, Saretta The Label, Van Ermel Scherer, and Yapa Mali.
Taking on the role of runway stylist, Proud Wiradjuri and Waiben Island man Lindyn Rowland infused his own aesthetic into the runway, all whilst staying true to each designer's niche and inspiration.
Speaking to Style Up earlier this week, Rowland explained he wanted audience members to feel the emotion of the runway before they understood it, which on the night resulted in Rowland creating a high-energy symbolic runway.
"There are a lot of subliminal messages throughout the vision," he said.
"I think that's very Scorpio of me, having these incredibly deep hidden emotions that don't always get spoken about directly, but somehow find a way to come through.
"I want people to feel something before they necessarily understand what they're looking at."
Rowland curated the runway with such precision that each look stood strong either as part of a collection or on its own.
Designer Verity Van Ermel Scherer, who showcased her brand on the MFW for the very first time, made an impact.
"This will be VES's first time on the Melbourne Fashion Week runway, which is incredibly exciting," Scherer told Style Up.
"Following our Australian Fashion Week debut, being part of the ganbu marra runway feels like a natural next step for the brand.
"I'm particularly excited that my first Melbourne Fashion Week experience will be alongside other First Nations creatives. Opportunities like this allow us to share our individual stories while contributing to something much bigger than ourselves."
When it came to those who walked the garments down the runway, the likes of Billie Jean Hamlet and Elaine George were hard to miss.
Also reappearing on the runway was model Savannah Kruger, plus proud Tiwi woman, model, and mentor Cassie Puruntatameri.
Executing yet another high-energy ganbu marra runway, Melbourne Fashion Week presented First Nations design in a way that was both modern and meaningful.
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