Post by : Meena
Hassan
New Delhi recently hosted a focused presentation of Australian First Nations fashion, staged by the Australian High Commission in partnership with Kirrikin and the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI). The event aimed to highlight Indigenous Australian design within India’s fashion landscape.
The programme opened with a traditional Aboriginal dance form rooted in more than 60,000 years of cultural practice. Performers moved to rhythms that evoked native animals such as the kangaroo and emu, underlining the storytelling and ceremonial heritage central to First Nations communities.
At the heart of the presentation was Kirrikin — a name from the Wonnarua language meaning “Sunday’s best clothes” — the luxury label founded by Indigenous designer Amanda Healy. Known for translating original First Nations artworks into contemporary textiles, the brand showed pieces conceived in Australia and produced in Noida, reflecting a practical creative partnership between the two countries.
Sunil Sethi, Chairman of the FDCI, noted the role of fashion in building cultural connections and acknowledged the growing global interest in indigenous craftsmanship and narrative-driven design.
The event also marked Kirrikin’s 10th anniversary and its first appearance on an Indian runway. The ‘Evoke’ collection included tailored blazers, flowing wrap dresses, soft crepe skirts and structured trousers. Drawing on motifs associated with the Noongar people of south‑west Western Australia, the garments were made in fine viscose crepe and featured hand-painted prints inspired by the region’s landscapes and stories.
Amanda Healy said she selected India as a principal manufacturing partner for the quality of its fabrics, framing the evening as both a fashion milestone and a cultural exchange that brought ancient traditions into a contemporary global context.
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