In its fourth year, Yirramboi festival returns to Naarm to unearth and platform First Nations creatives across myriad disciplines. Taking place over 10 days, from May 4 - 14, at the heart of Yirramboi is a compulsion for storytelling and the sharing of truths from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, first and foremost. Central to the festivities this year is its First Nations Fashion Show, which looks to the concept of yirramboi, a word that translates to "tomorrow" in the local languages of the Boonwurrung and Woiwurrung peoples, as its theme.
Entitled Tomorrow: The Experience and with creative direction by Rosie Kalina, the fashion show plays with the concept of a post-apocalyptic world, where dialogues around survival, reconciliation, climate change, and resistance are inevitable. Ultimately, the fashion show hopes to reimagine what First Nations fashion looks like, who is involved and on what terms.
With First Nations designers like Gammin Threads, Paola Balla, Rowland Vision, Bayikina, Wuurn of Kanak, as well as Wiradjuri woman Kristy Dickinson's beloved accessories label Haus of Dizzy included in the fashion show, audiences can expect "bold designs and strong messages," according to Yirramboi organisers.
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Although the spotlight is on fashion, there will be a host of dances performances from the likes of Wurundjeri female group, Djirri Djirri dancers, along with fellow dancers, Brothers in Arms, comprising of Aboriginal, West Papuan and Tongan artists who fuse traditional movement with contemporary street style. Troi-Saraih is also slated to perform.
Scheduled for 7pm Friday, May 12, Tomorrow: The Experience will take place at North Melbourne’s heritage-listed Meat Market, which has been renamed for the festival to honour the late actor and activist, Uncle Jack Charles. Tickets can be found on the Yirramboi website.
For more details around Yirramboi itself, you can explore the program via the festival website.
Image: @yirramboi
