Voxfrock reports from one of the most joyous and inclusive events on Melbourne Fashion Festival’s culture calendar.
Words and photos: Carlin John Stephenson
It was a moving opening to Ancestral Bloodlines, the 13th Global Indigenous Runway staged at Melbourne Museum and showcasing fashion designs by emerging creatives from around the world.
Wearing a symbolic possum skin cape, senior Wurundjeri elder of the Kulin alliance, Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin spoke about indigenous peoples “fighting against the odds” and the importance of honesty and truth before she broke the leaves off a eucalyptus branch, a gift of country, and passed them around the room.
Tina Waru, founder and chair of the Indigenous Runway project then spoke of the thousands of emerging indigenous designers who had made their way through the program over the past 13 years, and the thousands more who applied. She encouraged everyone to spread the word, keep an eye out for more young indigenous talent.
Designs from brands including Renae Lamb of Australia, Tito Schmidt Stowers of Samoa, Hupfeld Evers Hoerder of Fiji, Annette Sax and Joanne Cassady, both of Australia, Kaylan Baker of America, many others, showcased the evocative concepts of cultural lineage and Ancestral Bloodlines.
Between designers showcasing their work, guests were treated to dances, poetry and music by indigenous performers from Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka danced the runway ended with a euphoric standing ovation and sense of pride and joy across the room.
Meet the Voxfrocker – Carlin John Stephenson
