Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2026 Fashion Performances (Matinee)
The CIAF Fashion Performance is one of Australia’s most distinctive fashion events, a powerful intersection of contemporary design, art, movement and music, led by Queensland First Nations creatives.
The Thursday Community Shows offer daytime access to the CIAF Fashion Performance, celebrating emerging and established First Nations designers in an accessible, family-friendly setting.
Thursday 9 July 2026 | The Mill
DESIGNER LINE-UP
Show 1: Reclamation – Designers
1 pm Thursday 9 July 2026
- Simone Arnol (Celebration walk)
- Juan Chih Chin (Taiwan)
- Kerry Klimm
- Deadly Creative Sistas
- Trinity Bay HS
- Kuku Bulkaway Arts
- Irene Olive Adams
- Girringun Art Centre
- Pumicestone Indigenous Education & Employment Council (PIEEC)
- Yuma Taru (Taiwan)
- Badu Art Centre
- Delvene Cockatoo Collins
Show 2: Regeneration – Designers
3:30 pm Thursday 9 July 2026
- Samala Cronin (MumRed)
- Sandra & Shara Delaney
- Lisa Lui
- Felicity Chapman
- Magpie Goose
- Amy (Wudan) Neal
- Sigesile Kalidoai (Taiwan)
- TAFE Cultural Arts
- Relative Arts: Korina Emmerich and Liana Shewey (Indigenous New York Fashion Week)
- Nicole Chatfield
- Francoise Lane
- Yarrabah Art Centre
Curatorial Synopsis from CIAF Fashion Curator, Lynelle Flinders
"This year’s fashion program brings together designers from across Queensland, each sharing stories of Reclamation and Regeneration — from climate resilience and connection to land to personal journeys of healing and identity. Their collections reflect the strength that comes from reconnecting with culture, Country, and community.
For the first time, we are also honoured to welcome three Indigenous Taiwanese designers, whose work adds a rich international perspective. Through their designs, they share personal and cultural narratives that highlight the intersections of tradition and contemporary practice, creating meaningful dialogue across Indigenous cultures from around the world.
Across the program, designers reclaim their voices through making — using fashion to honour cultural knowledge, challenge assumptions, and express lived experiences that have long been overlooked. Their work becomes a form of self‑determination, celebrating who they are and where they come from.
Together, these designers will shape a powerful collective story of transformation in two performances, where fashion becomes a space for reclaiming narratives, regenerating cultural knowledge, and imagining new futures guided by local and global Indigenous voices."
*Guests who purchase double tickets to the fashion show will receive complimentary on-site parking for their convenience.