Country Road is sharing the stories of Wiradjuri woman Denni Francisco (Ngali) and Yuwaalaraay woman Julie Shaw (Maara) as part of NAIDOC Week.
The retailer has converted its Chadstone and South Yarra store windows to showcase the First Nations designers.
Customers can discover QR codes beside the collection, taking them directly to the designer’s online store where they can shop the collection.
Country Road first engaged Francisco and Shaw after their respective award wins at the National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFAs), an event sponsored by Country Road.
Since then, they have undertaken a tailored 12-month mentorship at Country Road to receive consulting on the needs of their brand.
This includes product development, quality control, legal, marketing and sustainability.
Speaking on what this year’s NAIDOC Week theme ‘Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!’ means to her, Shaw said it sends a strong message to the community.
"To me, this year's theme is really powerful, because it's all about taking action.
"Getting up, standing up and showing up for ourselves, for our communities, for our old people and our young ones. Doing what is 'right' and having the strength to call out what isn't. That's what it means to me.”
Francisco said the theme also sends a message of awareness.
"I think it helps to bring an awareness to who we are in the space, what it is that collectively we're trying to achieve. And the fact that we are willing to show up, to take the best path into the future, and how we do that collectively.”
Pictured: Denni Francisco with her designs.