CIAF 2026 Fashion Performance - Emerging South East Queensland Designer Call Out
CIAF’s Fashion Performance is a leading artistic platform where Queensland First Nations culture is expressed through fashion, modelling, dance, music and live performance. It is not a standard runway — it is a curated cultural presentation where textiles, movement and identity converge.
Since its evolution from the Regional Indigenous Fashion and Textile Showcase (RIFTS) in 2012, and its formal launch within CIAF in 2013 by Grace Lillian Lee, the Fashion Performance has grown into a nationally recognised platform for First Nations designers working at the intersection of art and fashion. CIAF honours Aunty Bronwyn Singleton and Aunty Maria Laxton, whose leadership and vision laid the foundations for the region’s contemporary First Nations fashion movement — a legacy that continues to shape the program today.
The Fashion Performance has featured designers and artists whose work has been recognised nationally and internationally, including coverage in Vogue Japan, Lifestyle Vogue Australia and Peppermint Magazine. More importantly, it has provided a space where designers can present culturally grounded work at scale — supported by professional production, choreography and creative direction.
Special Opening: Emerging South East Queensland Designers
For 2026, CIAF is extending a dedicated opportunity for emerging First Nations designers based in South East Queensland to submit an Expression of Interest.
We are seeking designers who:
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Are grounded in community and cultural practice
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Are exploring fashion as a site for storytelling, sovereignty and self-determination
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Are pushing material, form and presentation
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Are ready to present a resolved collection within a high-profile performance context
Selected designers will work closely with the CIAF curatorial and production team to present their collections within the 2026 Fashion Performance, supported by experienced stylists, choreographers, models and technical crew to realise their vision at a national level.
CIAF’s Fashion Performance is built on legacy, leadership and cultural authority. This special opening ensures South East Queensland designers are strongly represented within that story.
We welcome designers who are ready to contribute to its next chapter.
CIAF 2026 FASHION INFO PACK
To maintain the integrity of this showcase, we ask all applicants to carefully review the CIAF Info Pack and adhere to the guidelines and eligibility criteria before submitting an application.
PLEASE NOTE: Fashion Designer EOI Deadline for SEQ designers is 27 February 2026.
KEY DATES
- Fashion Designer EOI Deadline: 27 February 2026
- Final Selection Notification: 6 March 2026
- CIAF Program Dates: 9th & 10th July 2026
Please note that submitting an Expression of Interest does not guarantee placement. As places are limited and highly competitive, a formal selection process will take place following the close of EOIs.
What type of collections is CIAF seeking?
CIAF invites bold and vibrant collections that celebrate the unique use of materials, techniques, and textures in fashion, adornment, and wearable art. We welcome both traditional and contemporary approaches—collections that express cultural strength, innovation, and connection to Country.
In 2026, designers are encouraged to respond to CIAF’s theme, Reclamation & Regeneration.
The CIAF Fashion Performance brings together contemporary First Nations fine art, adornment, high-end fashion, and live performance in a dynamic, choreographed presentation across two shows. At its heart, this platform celebrates cultural expression and intergenerational empowerment—honouring identity, place, and practice.
We are seeking:
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Full fashion collections
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Wearable art and textile-led forms
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Elaborate adornments, including headpieces, neck, and body pieces
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Experimental collaborations across disciplines (dance, music, art, and fashion)
CIAF provides space for designers and models to share in the act of adornment, storytelling and cultural exchange. This is a highly competitive EOI process, as only a limited number of collections can be presented as part of CIAF’s 2026 Fashion Performance.
Images: 1. Shamaiah Sullivan wearing Irene Robinson & Darlene Fell's 2 Sistas Strong collection. Photograph: Blueclick Photography. 2. Anton Schorpflin modelling for Felicity Chapman. Photographs: Romy Photography.