BEYOND BLAK RUNWAY
Melbourne Fashion Festival
What an incredible experience!!
Flash1A was honoured to be chosen to make its runway debut at the First Nations Beyond Blak Runway for the Melbourne Fashion Festival on Wednesday the 25th February 2026 at the Royal Exhibition Centre, alongside 8 other talented designers.
Curated by Mob in Fashion, I was given the rare opportunity to contribute backstage, be hands on with my garments, able to do last minute alterations and adjustments and interact with the models before they headed out onto the runway.
It felt special to be a part of the full journey. The team were incredibly supportive and made you feel safe and a part of their community.
I am grateful to have witnessed the strength, talent and support of mob moving through this space. So, inspired!
Our first runway
cardigan
Ancient Existence
This cardigan features the full artwork of my Ancient Existence artwork, which represents the special midden site captured in the layers of time at a special place we call Moyjil (also known as Point Ritchie) in my hometown of Warrnambool.
DRESS
Midden Memories
Midden Memories is also another artwork created to represent the ancient midden sites trapped in our sand dunes along our rugged coastline which is what the actual shells embellished through the middle of the dress represents.
DRESS
Time to Blossom
Time to Blossom was designed to replicate a flowering gum, with embellished silk leaves cascading from branches on the front and back of the dress and the sleeve. The threads of wool and beads hanging from the bottom of the dress represent the fine fluffy bristle like flowers they produce when they blossom with their small yellow dotted tips replicated with golden pearl like beads.
Top and Skirt ensemble
Coastline Country
This ensemble has sections off my Ancient Existence artwork which represents our rugged coastline here in the South -West Victoria and along the Great Ocean Road which would have been occupied by our ancestors for many thousands of years.
Top and PANT ensemble
Lubly Layers
This ensemble was inspired by a piece of bark I found in a paddock. I was fascinated by its mesmerising layers of wood. So the artwork created for this ensemble is my version of the mesmerising layers.
DRESS
Ancient Existence Gown
This majestic dress features the complete Ancient Existence artwork which again represents the special midden sites at Moyjil (also known as Point Ritchie) in my hometown of Warrnambool.
With the rocky cliffs and marbling of Country at the top. The section of layered circles represent the thousands of tribes that would have travelled through that area seasonally. The large circle in the middle of the back of the dress represents a gathering place with journey lines and moving sands represented by the lines and dots coming out from it. The bottom section is the ocean that provided our ancestors with an abundance of food and resources.
DRESS
Banksia Beauty
This dress was inspired from seeing a cluster of Coastal Banksia flowers in a garden bed one day. Instantly I could see the flower as a sleeve, which I have replicated on the dress. The rough pattern on the banksia sleeves has been hand stitched.
The dress has the Bansia’s serrated leaves cascading down the front and back off one shoulder and some young budding banksias are replicated in random areas on the front of the dress. The bottom of the dress has the ocean wrapping around half of the dress to represent its tolerance of our harsh coastal winds and weather.
DRESS
Oh My Bunjil God!
This dress was designed to honour our creator spirit Bunjil the Wedge- Tailed Eagle.
To me Bunjil is a symbol of culture, power and beauty. It majestically flies high in the skies guarding and protecting us.
I purposely used the beautiful, beaded lace underneath the feathers to give it the grand beauty it deserved. Along with Swarovski crystals featured on the feathers, waistband and jacket. The cascading layered feathers represent its majestic feathers and flight.
DRESS AND CAPE
Shielded Grace
The cape for Shielded Grace was inspired by the shape of a leaf cascading down but also replicates the idea of a possum skin or kangaroo skin cloak used by my ancestors. Featuring an embellished shield in the centre back with gathering places along the edges of the cape. The dress features a shield in the centre of the dress with the repetitive arched shapes coming from it representing strong energy.
DRESS
Healing Country
This dress has my complete Family, Growth, Connection artwork on it. I have changed the narrative from my original artwork to suit the dress with the Main leaf at the front representing Country with connection lines and gathering places coming from it representing our deep connection to the land. With the pattern on the back representing stepping stones and pavers. Encouraging us to pave the way towards a sustainable future being mindful of our footprint on our precious environment. Featuring gold metallic thread throughout the entire dress and the main leaf embellished with multiple beads.
