Leading design, property and construction firms Architectus, Brookfield Properties, MPA and Slattery have united in support of Melbourne Fashion Festival’s First Nations Program, which will include the First Nations Runway and the KIN Fashion Exhibition, sponsored by Kinaway Chamber of Commerce. The First Nations Program will complement the MOB in Fashion employment pathways program led by Indigenous model and designer, Nathan Mcguire.

The First Nations Runway – also called Runway 5 – will feature an all First Nations designer line-up on 11 March at ACMI in Federation Square, presented on the land of the Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation, presented by Vogue Australia and Samsung Galaxy.

The KIN Fashion Exhibition will showcase nine First Nations clothing and homeware designers.The space will feature an exhibition of campaign imagery paired with designer bios and a central textile installation representing their work from 3-12 March at Federation Square.

Architectus is providing pro bono design advice to Kinaway to create the immersive 6x5m fashion pavilion.

The Consortium has also contributed $10,000 towards a bursary to support the MOB in Fashion program, led by Nathan McGuire.