Earthy tones and flowing textiles to the beat of a spiritual drum, the Global Indigenous Runway took VAMFF by storm.
The intimate show was held at the Melbourne Museum as part of the 2016 Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival. Native designs from Australia to north-western Canada’s Yukon region featured in The Offsite Runway. After four years in the fashion circuit, the Indigenous Runway Project was this year funded by the State governments’ Creative Victoria initiative.
A fervent opening performance lead Melbourne’s Lyn-Al Young and her exotic collection of silken evening gowns. Young’s ‘Fasheaming’ philosophy was revealed in dazzling hand-painted tapestries, delivering a masterfully crafted vision of grounded desertous colours cavorting on sleek, lustrous fabric. The tribal palette seeped together on pristine silk, shimmering under light and manifesting protection from negative energy.
If Lyn-Al protected from negative energy, Rauwhiro brought ferocious vibes…
Tessa Bailey-Lont stunned with her daring and primal collection for New Zealand’s Rauwhiro. The line was a journey, beginning with a raw, oxblood fur piece draped over an angular bronze dress. The designs descended into deeper maroons and eventually to a commanding monochrome number. The jacket’s pearl-white leather upper, evolving from a smoky grey beneath.
The line concluded with a simple, eloquent white cotton dress flowing delicately to the baby blue stitching on its front. Rauwhiro’s was an innovative collection, experimenting with textures, hues and adventurous silhouettes which told a passionate story, boldly.
The Global Indigenous Runway was a pillar of the VAMFF experience, sounds surrounding the stage with shattering base lines, guttural tribal vocals… and dubstep? Odd choice, slightly annoying, but it ended quickly.
The runway was slim, making the experience profoundly personal, adding to the cultural vibrancy accompanied by seeing the intricacies of the designs up close. Autumnal palettes are a big part of this season, Lyn-Al Young’s selection of tribal shades complemented this trend. Oxblood will be prominent also, reflected in Rauwhiro’s line.
From ambitious beginnings it’s clear that the Indigenous Runway Project has graduated from behind VAMFF’s cultural veil, and is now ready for the main stage.
Harrison Johnstone 