Australian indigenous label ‘Kirrikin’ to make India debut

In a first-of-its-kind celebration of Australian Indigenous creativity, the Australian High Commission in India, in collaboration with Kirrikin and the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), will host a special fashion showcase in New Delhi on Tuesday (October 28).

The event marks the Indian debut of Kirrikin, a luxury Indigenous Australian fashion label founded by social entrepreneur Amanda Healy, highlighting the growing creative and cultural collaboration between Australia and India.

Founded in 2014, Kirrikin, a word that means Sunday’s best clothes in the Wonnarua language, brings together traditional Aboriginal art and contemporary design.

The brand transforms hand-painted First Nations artworks into elegant silk and cashmere garments, each piece telling a story of culture, identity, and connection to land.

Designed in Australia and crafted in Noida, India, the label has become a striking example of the Australia–India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA) in action.

Speaking about the showcase, Australian High Commissioner to India, Philip Green OAM, said the event symbolises the depth of cultural exchange between the two nations.

“This is a powerful celebration of the creativity, resilience, and cultural richness of Australia’s First Nations peoples. Kirrikin’s journey exemplifies the strength of trade and cultural exchange under the Australia–India partnership. We are proud to bring their designs to the runway in Delhi in collaboration with the Fashion Design Council of India.”

For Healy, a Wonnarua woman and the driving force behind Kirrikin, the Delhi showcase marks an important milestone. “Bringing First Nations fashion, art, and storytelling to India is an honour,” she said. “This collaboration with the Australian High Commission and the FDCI highlights the creativity and powerful voices of Indigenous Australian designers.”

Speaking to The Tribune about Kirrikin’s collaboration with Noida for crafting, Healy said, “Since 2014, Noida has been part of Kirrikin’s production. I have a deep admiration for Indian textiles and when we first came here, we found that India offered the perfect combination of affordability, scale, and exceptional quality. To this day, I haven’t seen cashmere comparable to what we source here anywhere else in the world.”

She added, “What truly sets our collaboration apart is the willingness of our Indian makers to adapt and innovate. They’ve always been eager to work closely with us, often going above and beyond to meet our needs. It’s been such a wonderful experience and everyone we’ve worked with here so far has been amazing.”

FDCI Chairman Sunil Sethi said the partnership reflected the evolving dialogue between Indian and Australian design traditions. “Fashion has always been a bridge, and this event is a true meeting of cultures,” he noted, adding that the showcase will introduce Indian audiences to the vibrant aesthetics and narratives of First Nations art.

The evening will also feature traditional music and dance performances by First Nations artists, offering audiences an immersive cultural experience.