CIAF & FNFD collaborate to elevate First Nations fashion at 2025 fair

Grace Lillian Lee’s journey began with CIAF in 2013, when she launched the fashion performance at the Ufla Upla Textile Conference. Since then, her creative leadership and founding of FNFD—a national platform supporting Indigenous designers and models—has elevated Indigenous fashion to the global stage.

Commenting on her return to the CIAF fold, the synergy of the partnership, and what can be likened to a full circle moment, Ms Lee said, “FNFD is thrilled to ignite its partnership with CIAF in a celebration of creativity and innovation. Together, we are embracing this new chapter dedicated to creating opportunities and pathways for designers to share their unique stories with the world.”

This year, CIAF's Look & Listen Fashion Performances at Tanks Arts Centre on 10 and 11 July will spotlight 12 First Nations designers influenced by professional development workshops from FNFD.

With CIAF’s 2025 theme, Pay Attention! inviting deeper audience engagement with First Nations stories, the fashion program will showcase collections that fuse bold creative expression with personal and cultural narratives, enhanced by a powerful new mentoring component.

CIAF Fashion Coordinator and Curator of Look & Listen, Lynelle Flinders, said partnering with FNFD is a significant opportunity to build capacity and elevate the presentation and development of Indigenous fashion.

“CIAF, in collaboration with Grace Lillian Lee and FNFD, intends to elevate designers to a more advanced stage in their careers—to help expose them to larger markets and audiences,” Ms Flinders said.

In the lead-up to the Fair, FNFD will deliver five mentoring and capacity-building workshops—both in person and online—covering concept and design development, sourcing fabrics, textile knowledge, pattern making, and branding.

This year’s Look & Listen performances—reimagined under Artistic Director Teho Ropeyarn—will be presented as two distinct showcases. Look invites audiences to engage with the visual power of six dynamic designers, including Sandra and Shara Delaney, Robert Tommy Pau, Irene Robinson and Darlene Fell, Hope Vale Arts Centre, Felicity Chapman, and a guest collaboration. Listen shifts the focus to storytelling, featuring collections by Delvene Cockatoo-Collins, Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre, Lisa Lui, and others whose work expresses intergenerational narratives and deep cultural meaning.

Tickets to CIAF’s Look & Listen fashion performances are now available via Ticketlink. Tickets are in high demand - click the button below to secure yours. 

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Image (top): Grace Lillian Lee (First Nations Fashion Design, Gillyba Ambrum & Lynelle Flinders (CIAF). Photograph: Alicia Jade (Studio Sol).