NAMBUCCA Valley mother and daughter creatives, Gumbaynggirr women Melissa Greenwood and Lauren Jarrett, founders of Miimi and Jiinda, debuted their Burraba collection at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week (AAFW) at Carriageworks in Sydney’s Redfern on Wednesday 17 May.

Their Miimi and Jiinda brand was one of seven Indigenous designers chosen for the David Jones Indigenous Fashion Projects Runway presented during AAFW.

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“It just felt like the right time to enter into a program like this as we had been working on building our fashion/ wearable art side of the business over the previous two years,” Melissa told News Of The Area.

“It was a huge learning journey to get to this point.

“Being supported and mentored with the best industry knowledge through Indigenous Fashion Projects (IFP) has been an invaluable opportunity.

“Through the program, which ran for over 24 months, we were given mentors; ours being Australian brand Jac + Jack, who are incredible and have been so helpful and supportive.”

Miimi and Jiinda’s collection is called Burraba which means ‘Unearth’ in Gumbaynggirr.

“The collection aims to highlight and celebrate our Gumbaynggirr culture and our beautiful matriarchal side.

“My Nan and Gran have always played an important role in my work, and they inspire me daily.

“The hand painted dress I created depicts my interpretation of our traditional birthing caves on Country, honouring the deep wisdom they still carry.

“You will see mum’s (Lauren) weaving adorned along the neck-line which is woven from Lomandra, foraged off Gumbaynggirr Country here on the Mid North Coast.

“Where we are based in the Nambucca Valley, we have a bush track that leads to the beach, it’s like a magical forest track that’s winding and full of big beautiful ancient trees and plants, after walking for a little while you come across a footbridge which leads you to the beach, the beaches are always so quiet and peaceful.

“Our production practices utilise the best natural fabrics and strive to support the best sustainable production processes here in Australia.

“It is important to us to be mindful of Country and consider what we take and how we take it…and always think of ways we can give back to community.

“We want to create garments worth celebrating and made to pass down for generations,” she said.

To close the show Lauren wore a beautiful silk dress made by Melissa, accessorised with a hand woven cloak she prepared over months leading up to the event, made with natural plants picked on Gumbaynggirr country.

Melissa’s younger brother, Mijarrah Jarrett, who opened the runway show, told NOTA, “I was in a meditative state leading up to the show, as I am most of the time preparing for anything traditional.

“I go inward and connect with my spirit and to my ancestors.

“The designs from my sister were really impressive to me personally, so I was excited with anticipation for them to be showcased to a wider audience.”

Approaching his time to walk out on the runway, Mijarrah’s initial thought was to do the runway like everybody else.

”(That was) until a lovely woman named Kate, also one of the models, asked if I was a dancer and I said yes I was, to which she made me promise that I would showcase this on the runway.

“I agreed.

“As I approached the runway, I saw my family across from me and I felt the buzz start to build, the gratitude I felt in the moment was immense and the honour and respect for my family and culture was filling me up.

“I walked out onto the runway and let spirit take over, letting it all flow naturally out… to getting off the runway.”

On a high backstage, Mijarrah said he didn’t know how to express the feeling.

“Walking back to the point backstage where you could watch the live stream I see my mother, a stolen generation Gumbaynggirr woman, walking down the runway in my sister’s Miimi and Jiinda dress to stand and pose in her resilience, beauty and confidence was truly a sight to see.

“To understand all that my mother has come through and all the work she has done, the times she has stood strong for me and my sisters… and continues today, to be a strong matriarch.”

Her graciousness and elegance radiated to the audience in that moment, said Mijarrah.

“For me, I felt overwhelmed with happiness and respect.”

For himself and for his family, it was a milestone of achievement.

“From Stolen Gen to Australian Fashion Week runway,” he said.

For more on Miimi and Jiinda see @miimiandjiinda and @minjarrahjarrett.

By Andrea FERRARI