First Nations designers will again have the opportunity to showcase their work at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week (AAFW), organiser IMG has announced.
IMG will this year build on the program that was debuted at last year's AAFW, further extending the program's reach into the event.
Not-for-profit Indigenous corporation, First Nations Fashion and Design (FNFD) will open and close AAFW with two events: a ‘Welcome to Country’ on Monday 9 May to officially open Fashion Week, and the Closing Show and party on Friday 13 May.
Presented by Afterpay, the runway show will be produced, styled, modelled and staffed backstage by an all-Indigenous cast and crew.
In a Fashion Week first, a party will be held on the runway directly following the FNFD show to bring AAFW 2022 to its official close.
IMG VP of fashion events and properties APAC Natalie Xenita said the organisation was proud to extend the First Nations program.
"IMG remains committed to delivering opportunities that place First Nations fashion designers and creatives at the forefront of the Australian fashion industry.
"We’re building on our efforts from the debut of the First Nations Fashion and Design showcase last season to create something bigger and farther reaching in new and thoughtful ways: to showcase the history and future of First Nations peoples’ creativity and sovereignty through AAFW," she said.
In addition to the Welcome to Country and Closing Show, AAFW will also feature dedicated programming curated by and featuring First Nations designers and creatives as part of the suite of talks and conversations.
Further runways featuring First Nations designers are yet to be announced.
AAFW will take place from 9 to13 May 2022 at Carriageworks, Sydney and virtually on the AAFW website.