Australian designers Mia Brennan and Grace Lee will show alongside seven Maori designers – Adrienne Whitewood, Mitchell Vincent, Kylie Mangan, Hori Thompson, Leilani Rickard, Dmonic Intent and Pia Boutique – as part of the Miromoda Showcase.
Lee’s richly embellished fabrics echo the influences of her culture where she translates traditional techniques into contemporary womenswear (pictured). A former accessory designer, Lee worked at Mimco as an assistant designer before starting her own label. She was awarded Young Emerging Designer at the Melange Fashion Show in San Francisco in 2011 and will be showcasing her work at the inaugural Australian Indigenous Fashion Week in 2014.
Brennan will be presenting designs her emerging label Mimi Designs. Based in Byron Bay, Brennan draws on her surroundings as well as her Aboriginal ancestry for inspiration using earthy fibres and textiles to create garments with a contemporary edge.
Other Australian labels showing on the schedule this week include Charlie Brown and swimwear label Tigerlily.
Fashion Week, which kicks off tonight, runs until September 8. Established labels on the schedule include Zambesi, Trelise Cooper, Andrea Moore, Jimmy D, Hailwood, Stolen Girlfriends Club, Twenty-Seven Names and Salasai.