WHO CAN APPLY — INDIVIDUAL:
You must meet all of the following:
- Be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander artist or designer
- Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- Reside in Australia
- Your label or practice, if you have one, is majority Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander owned
- Business structure, if any: Sole Trader, Partnership, Company (Pty Ltd), or another business structure. An ABN is required if you have a registered business; if you have no registered business, an ABN is not required to apply
WHO CAN APPLY — GROUP:
You must meet all of the following:
- Be majority Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander owned
- Be Australian citizens or permanent residents
- Reside in Australia
- Business structure: Sole Trader, Partnership, Company (Pty Ltd), or another business structure. An ABN is required if you have a registered business; if you have no registered business, an ABN is not required to apply
WHO CAN APPLY — ORGANISATIONS:
You must meet all of the following:
- Be a First Nations-owned small business or micro-organisation
- An art centre manager or other authorised representative may apply on behalf of a First Nations-owned art centre or organisation
- The applicant or representative is an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- Be majority Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander owned. Leadership or management may include non-Indigenous people
- Be based in Australia
- Business structure: Pty Ltd, partnership, or another business structure. An ABN is required
WHO CAN APPLY — COLLABORATION:
You must meet all of the following:
- Be a collaboration between an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander designer or artist and another brand, label or organisation
- The applying business or group is majority Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander owned; the collaborating partner may be a non-Indigenous brand, label or organisation
- The First Nations collaborator holds genuine creative authorship and leadership of the collection, not a nominal or brand-ambassador role
- The First Nations collaborator is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, residing in Australia. The collaborating partner may be based overseas and does not need to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
COLLECTION ELIGIBILITY (all applicants):
Applicants must be able to provide a complete collection of 8-12 professional-standard, runway-ready looks, finished and arrived in Sydney no later than 26th April 2027. All garments must be structurally sound and able to withstand handling, styling, and runway wear. FNFD will curate the runway sequence and provide a stylist to prepare each look for presentation. Designers must still submit complete, finished outfits. Collections in development are welcome to apply, but must be complete and arrive in Sydney by 26th April 2027. FNFD prefers collections that have not been shown publicly before the National Runway. Applicants are asked to tell us if the collection has been or will be shown elsewhere first.
WHAT THE APPLICATION ASKS ABOUT:
The selection panel may not know you or your practice, so share as much detail as you can so the panel can assess your collection. The application asks about:
- Your details, whether you identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, your applicant type, whether your business is majority Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander owned, and your business structure and ABN (an ABN is required for any registered business or organisation)
- Your designer experience, your availability for the runway in May 2027, and whether the collection has been or will be shown elsewhere first
- The name to be credited publicly, the collection's working title, your mob, Country or community connection, your part in making the collection, and the team behind it
- The story behind the collection, the number of looks, why you are applying, and where the collection is in its making
- How the collection is being made, by whom, where materials are sourced, whether any garments are upcycled, and your development timeline to the collection's arrival in Sydney by 26th April 2027
- How Indigenous artists, makers and collaborators are involved and acknowledged
- Any cultural considerations we should follow when presenting or promoting the collection
- Your stage as a designer, how showing on the runway would support your next stage, and what would help most from FNFD
- A photo of the designer or group, collection images, a video, and your artist and collection bios
COLLECTION IMAGE & VIDEO REQUIREMENTS:
- Minimum 1 image or sketch per look or concept (8-12). Images should be full-length, front-on and well-lit
- Optional 3-5 hero images best representing the collection's story or standout pieces
- Optional 2-3 detail shots (fabric, print, or construction detail)
- Image format: JPG or PNG
- Minimum resolution: 1500px on the longest side
- Maximum image file size: 10MB per image
- A short video (2-3 minutes) speaking to the concept and collection, and, if available, showing it in movement (for example styling, walkthrough or runway test footage). A video is optional but encouraged: either upload it or provide a link to an unlisted YouTube/Vimeo/Instagram video
- Video format: MP4 or MOV
- Maximum video file size: 200MB, applying to both the collection video and the artist/designer bio video
BIO REQUIREMENTS:
Artist/Designer bio: background, practice, connection to community/Country. May be submitted as written text, or as a short video (2-3 minutes) introducing yourself and your practice instead
Collection bio: concept, materials, cultural narrative, techniques used
Both due by the application closing date and time: 11:59pm (Queensland time) on Monday 11th January 2027
PARTICIPATION FEES AND INCLUSIONS:
Applying is free. Participation fees apply only if your application is accepted and are not charged at the application stage. Fees are shown excluding GST, and GST is added if applicable. Payment options: pay the total participation fee upfront, or pay in four equal instalments of $500 (excluding GST). The first instalment is due on signing the participation agreement, the second and third instalments are due at regular intervals, and the final instalment is due by the show date. The payment schedule is confirmed in your offer. National Runway — $2,000 per label (excluding GST). If your application is accepted, FNFD will provide:
More than a runway, FNFD offers a national platform to celebrate First Nations creativity, elevate your brand and connect with the Australian fashion industry.
- Presentation of your collection (8-12 looks) on a professionally curated Sydney runway
- First Nations models: professional model coordination and representation
- Styling, hair and make-up: creative and backstage support
- Runway production: professional production led by a First Nations creative team
- Media asset package: edited runway photographs and runway video footage for your portfolio and promotion
- National exposure: featured promotion across FNFD's website, communications and media channels, with potential additional editorial opportunities
- Guest access: two complimentary VIP tickets
SELECTION CRITERIA:
Applications are assessed against the criteria below. Not every prompt will apply to every application. They are a guide to what the panel considers.
Design and craft:
- Originality and strength of the collection concept
- Quality of construction, finish and materials
- Cohesion across the looks, and readiness to be presented on a runway
Cultural integrity:
- Connection to community and Country, and the cultural authority to present the work
- How Indigenous artists, makers and collaborators are involved and acknowledged
- Respect for Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property
Delivery:
- Ability to complete the collection and have it arrive in Sydney by 26th April 2027
- A clear production plan, including who is making it and where materials come from
Pathway and impact:
- How participation would support the designer's next stage
- Contribution to the range of designers presented across the runway
HOW APPLICATIONS ARE ASSESSED:
Limited places available. Selection is through an industry panel application process.
- Check: FNFD staff confirm the application is complete and meets the eligibility requirements.
- Assessment: a panel assesses collections against the selection criteria.
- Notification: applicants will be notified of the outcome by Monday 1st February 2027.
- Offer: selected designers receive an offer with fees and terms. Participation is confirmed once the offer is accepted and the first instalment or the full fee is paid, depending on the chosen payment option.
TERMS OF PARTICIPATION:
- One collection per designer.
- Upcycled garments must show how they have been structurally redesigned.
- Designers pay for freight of the collection to the event, and for their own travel and accommodation. FNFD pays for the return freight of the collection.
- If a designer withdraws after the offer is accepted, fees paid are not refunded. FNFD may consider individual circumstances case by case. Please notify FNFD in writing as soon as possible.
- Designers must attend the scheduled briefings and rehearsals. Dates will be advised to successful applicants.
- Styling changes are agreed at the rehearsal. No changes are made on the day of the show unless approved by FNFD's stylist.
- Looks that arrive incomplete or damaged and cannot be repaired may be removed from the runway.
- FNFD collects personal information in line with the Privacy Act 1988.
*Selection is at the sole discretion of the selection panel and runway organisers.