Kimberley Aboriginal fashion flourishes in sold-out KAFTA runway show

Kimberley Aboriginal fashion needs to be showcased across international runways, says Kimberley Aboriginal Fashion Textiles and Art (KAFTA) model Jake Powers.

The 20-year-old model adorned a range of eclectic looks by Kimberley designers at Broome’s Town Beach jetty, which became a striking runway for KAFTA’s Sunday show.

Now in its fourth year, KAFTA features an array of fashion events, culminating in the highly anticipated runway show, putting Kimberley Aboriginal creations on centre stage.

The event successfully broke last years records, incorporating 23 designers, and selling out tickets.

“We tell stories through painting on fabrics, weaving and stitching,” he said.

This year’s artistic director, Kartika Christophers, expanded on Powers’ view, describing Aboriginal fashion as a continuation of cultural expression.

“You could potentially buy a dress or print that is someone’s song line or Dreamtime story,” Christopers said.

“For me that’s the greatest evolution.”

She also spoke to fashion’s deeper role in community healing.

“For Aboriginal people, fashion, textiles and art is incredibly healing.”

“Our people, over the last 65 years, need a lot of healing and now it’s coming through the art space, and not from a sports-related place.”

In the late afternoon light, the multi-blue patterns of Bidyadanga artist Jaymee Lee Chaquabor’s dress danced against the ocean backdrop.

Chaquabor was making her debut as a fashion designer, something she couldn’t quite believe herself.

“I wasn’t expecting to do this in my life, with my kids I didn’t think I would have time to do any of this,” she said.

“But it shows anything is possible, you just have to put in the hard work.”

The Bardi Jawi woman grew up in Djarindjin community, 200km north of Broome, but has been living in Bidyadanga for the past 16 years, though her design represents home.

She has called one of her billowing skirt designs “Amban”, which she says “is a special fish to my people”.

“When we used to go fishing, ambans used to play everywhere, they were scary but beautiful.”