CIAF 2026 FASHION PERFORMANCE

Shamaiah Sullivan wearing Irene Robinson & Darlene Fell's 2 Sistas Strong collection. Photograph: Blueclick Photography.

About CIAF Fashion Performance

The CIAF’s Fashion Performance is a leading artistic platform where Queensland First Nations culture is celebrated through art, fashion, modelling, dance, and performance. Launched in 2013 by Grace Lillian Lee, the Fashion Performance has become known for featuring a wide range of Indigenous Artists and Designers who are actively expressing themselves through fashion and textiles.

The Fashion Performance program creates a unique space for a wide array of creatives to come together collaboratively from dance, art, design and music in order to present a contemporary fashion performance that has gained National and International recognition in publications such as Peppermint Magazine, Vogue Japan and Lifestyle Vogue Australia.

In 2026, CIAF’s creative team extends the opportunity to all First Nations Designers living in or connected to Queensland to submit an EOI. We encourage applicants who are interested in pushing the boundaries of fashion, art and Culture. The successful applicants will be working with the CIAF curatorial team to ensure that their collection is showcased at the highest possible level.

EOI Due Date:

COB, Friday 21 November 2025

Important Dates:

• Fashion Designer EOI Deadline: 21 November 2025
• Final Selection Notification: 28 November 2025
• CIAF Program Dates: July 2026 

CIAF 2026 Fashion Theme

CIAF 2026 presents Reclamation & Regeneration as the theme which honours the enduring strength, vitality and creativity of Queensland’s First Nations peoples.

Reclamation is the active retrieval of what was taken, lost, archived or forgotten; whilst Regeneration is the renewal and transformation of that knowledge into vibrant, living cultures. Together, they form a cycle of cultural survival, resurgence and innovation.

Reclamation speaks to a return to Country, to memory, and to stories passed down through generations. It is an act of resistance and resurgence by reclaiming space through expressions of language, cultural identity and spiritual connection. It confronts the dispossession and disruption of peoples from Country and the environment, while addressing the threats posed to our cultural expressions, belief systems, and visual languages and iconography.

Regeneration builds upon the foundational work of Reclamation; it breathes new life into repossessed knowledges. It is a creative force that sustains cultural identity through intergenerational exchange, innovation and healing. Regeneration nurtures the land and spirit, and imagines futures rooted in healing and transformation.

 

What type of collections are CIAF seeking?

CIAF seeks to highlight the innovative use of materials, assemblage techniques, and textures in the creation of vibrant fashion collections. These may include traditional and/or contemporary pieces expressed through adornment and wearable art, with a central focus on the 2026 theme: 'Say Something.'

The Fashion Performance aims to unite contemporary Indigenous fine art and wearable art with high-end fashion, presented through cultural movement and performance. This platform promotes contemporary First Nations design and empowers youth by celebrating identity, heritage, and creative expression.

This year’s performance will feature full fashion collections, wearable art, and elaborate adornments—including headpieces, neckwear, and body adornments. CIAF offers designers and models a collaborative space to explore the act of adornment, presentation, and storytelling.

Please note: the Expression of Interest process is competitive, and the number of collections selected for the CIAF Fashion Performance is limited.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Applicants must 18 years of age or over to participate in this program.

2. Applicants must identify as First Nations artists and be of Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander descent.

3. Applicants must meet one of the following residency requirements: Reside in Queensland (QLD) or have familial ties to Queensland, meaning they have family connections or ancestral links to Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander communities in Queensland.

4. The program is open to First Nations artists at any stage of their career, including emerging, mid-career, or established artists.

5. Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to Indigenous cultural preservation, expression, continual improvement, and upholding of cultural protocols related to Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property. Refer to CIAF Code of Practice at the end of this form.

 Selection Criteria

• Consideration of the collection or the production, to the theme 'Say Something'
• Each collection requires a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 10 complete looks
• Male and/or female garment designs are required to be practical in wearability and allow for movement
• The innovative use or application of natural or traditional techniques materials, such as: fiber, ochre, plant dyes, wood, leaves, feathers, shells etc.
• Adherence to cultural protocols and seeking permission from Traditional Custodians when sourcing materials and use of artefacts from Country that is not your own
• CIAF requires that designers interested in selling their designs at the Fashion Pop-up shop ensure their garments meet industry standards. For further information go to https://www.productsafety.gov.au/product-safety-laws/safety-standards-bans/mandatory-standards/care-labelling-for-clothing-and-textiles 

 

Selected EOI applications
The selection of the successful EOIs will be made at the discretion of the CIAF.

All applicants will be notified by email as to the outcome.

Successful applicants will:

• be emailed a Designer Agreement for completion and return
• be required to pay an Entrance Fee of $300 + GST to participate in the show
• be required to be present at the “2026 CIAF Fashion Performances” in July 2026
• be acknowledged as the designers during the presentation
• have opportunity to sell their designs at the CIAF Art Market Fashion Pop-up shop

Upload examples of your clothing or wearble artwork created in the last 18 months.

Image Consent

I understand that photographs and/or video recordings (collectively, the "Images") may be taken during the performance/event. By signing below, I grant Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) ("Licensee") a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free right and license to use, reproduce, modify, display, distribute, and create derivative works of the Images including but not limited to the following purposes: 

Promote future workshops, conferences, and events hosted by Licensee. Use on Licensee's website and social media platforms. Include in workshop/conference materials (e.g., presentations, handouts). 

Scope of Use: 
The Images may be used in the following media: websites, social media platforms, printed collateral and more. 
 
Image Alteration: 
CIAF may edit or alter the Images for minor adjustments (e.g., cropping, brightness). I understand that Licensee will not use the Images in a way that misrepresents me.

Right to Withdraw Consent: 

I have the right to withdraw consent for the use of the Images of me at any time. Such withdrawal of consent shall be made in writing to marketing@ciaf.com.au 

By signing below, I acknowledge that I have read and understood the terms of this Image Consent Form.