Last week, PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival swept Victoria's capital, turning a spotlight on the wealth of talent in Australia's fashion industry. While the official festivities may have concluded, there is one runway that has lingered in our minds long after the final exit. Taking place in the evening at the Royal Exhibition Building on Thursday, March 7, the third Mob in Fashion runway was a powerful showcase of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander excellence in Australian fashion.

With the support of Fujitsu, Mob in Fashion spent four months preparing for the 45-minute runway which tapped emerging First Nations brands, designers, models, stylists and creatives. Yapa Mali, Delvene Cockatoo-Collins, Wagan Metals, Gali Swimwear, Corcorancorin, Kirrikin, and Wiradjuri label Lychee Alkira were just some of the designers and brands curated for the program.

The final runway looks were accompanied by a performance from Samoan and Kamilaroi artist Becca Hatch – another highlight from the week – raising the energy of the night.

Similarly to how The Blueprint acts as a directory of BIPOC Australian talent, Mob in Fashion is an initiative of Whadjuk Noongar model Nathan McGuire and was born out of a fierce commitment to broadening First Nations representation behind the scenes in the fashion industry. After all, they are the original storytellers.

Armed with stories of being "the only Aboriginal person in the room" over the course of his decade-long career, McGuire is adamant on shifting this dynamic for those coming up through the ranks now. It's not just about helping First Nations creatives get their foot in the door either. Longevity is key. McGuire is interested in creating paid opportunities for Blak creatives, along with consulting designers, models, photographers and makeup artists in the process of building brands.

Step into the Mob in Fashion runway below, with a selection of imagery from the night courtesy of Lucas Dawson and Dan Castano.