First Nations Fashion and Design continues the momentum of its valued partnership with ​THE ICONIC, co-designing and delivering THE ICONIC X FNFD Incubator Program in 2023. 

Advocating for further representation of First Nations designers in the fashion industry, FNFD evidenced a need for additional opportunities and access to support designers breaking into production and distribution channels on a larger-scale.

Enter THE ICONIC X FNFD Incubator Program

Co-designed by THE ICONIC and FNFD, the Incubator Program leverages THE ICONIC’s industry leading position to promote First Nations fashion brands, combined with FNFD’s extensive community engagement, cultural guidance and industry experience. 

The pilot Program will run for 7 months in 2023, aiming to support First Nations designers through hands-on learning experiences, network expansion, business guidance, and industry and manufacturing development. At the conclusion of the Incubator Program, designers will take part in an eCommerce shoot and be invited to sell their collections on THE ICONIC.   

Expressions of Interest to undertake the pilot program opened in late-2022 to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives across the country. A large number of impressive EOIs were received, and after being shortlisted by an expert panel from the fashion, design and First Nations communities, three First Nations designers were chosen.  

Want to see who the three successful designers are? Visit the ‘2023 Designer’ tab on our FNFD’s website!  

Follow the journey as THE ICONIC X FNFD Incubator Program rolls out this year, search for @first.nations.fashion.design and @theiconicau on social media. (Oh, and follow the designers' social media too of course!).