First Peoples: Treading Lightly

A significant new exhibition at Fed Square is set to highlight contemporary First Peoples fashion and textile practice.

Treading Lightly, presented by the Koorie Heritage Trust, features more than 38 garments, textile pieces and accessories created by seven Victorian First Peoples artists and designers.

On display from Saturday 7 March to Sunday 17 May 2026, the exhibition represents the fifth edition of KHT's Blak Design program - a nationally distinctive initiative that supports First Peoples creatives through mentorship and studio-based development at RMIT University's School of Fashion and Textiles.

The exhibition explores fashion as more than clothing - positioning it as cultural expression and lived knowledge. Visitors will see hand-dyed fabrics, plant-based textiles, possum-skin elements, woven components, reclaimed materials and 3D-printed adornments presented together. Each work carries personal narratives, intergenerational memory and enduring ties to Country. The result is a conversation between heritage and contemporary practice, where tradition and experimentation coexist.

The 2026 Blak Design cohort includes Vicki Burgess, Kylie Colemane, Bianca Easton, Clinton Hayden, Jasmine-Skye Marinos, Luke Morgan and Megan Paine. Each artist brings a distinct perspective shaped by their own experiences and disciplines. Mentors including Dr Christian Thompson AO, Kate Reynolds and Yashna Seethiah provided guidance throughout the program while encouraging strong individual expression.

As Megan Paine explains, the program created space for both collaboration and personal growth, allowing participants to support one another while developing their own creative direction.

Environmental responsibility is a consistent theme throughout the exhibition, framed as an ongoing cultural obligation rather than a passing design movement. The works collectively reflect practices grounded in Country, memory and respect.

A fully illustrated catalogue accompanies the exhibition, sharing each designer's journey in their own voice.

Treading Lightly is on show at the Koorie Heritage Trust in the Birrarung Building at Fed Square.






 The Koorie Heritage Trust View Venue
 Levels 1 and 3, The Yarra Building, Federation Square Melbourne Victoria 3001 Map



Advertiser: kht.org.au

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