Coffs Harbour fashion designers Miimi & Jiinda impress at Australian Fashion Week

It was tick, tick, boom as luxurious designs from a unique Coffs Coast clothing label rocked the room at Australian Fashion Week in Sydney. Check out the awesome photos from the runway.

Miimi & Jiinda on the runway. Picture: Dylan Buckee

Coffs Harbour has long been considered something of a cultural backwater by outsiders – a wannabe city where boardies and double-pluggers are fine to wear basically everywhere.

Shaking off that stereotype on Wednesday night were Melissa Greenwood and her mum Lauren Jarrett as their designer label Miimi & Jiinda debuted at Australian Fashion Week.

The Coffs designs from the Burraaba collection took centre stage at the Indigenous Fashion Projects parade at the A-lister event.

Actor Miranda Tapsell in a Miimi & Jiinda outfit at the David Jones Indigenous Fashion Projects. Picture: Dylan Buckee

Ms Greenwood’s designs – all proudly Australian made – feature flowing linen and silk garments.

Each of the outfits were set off with a woven artwork, handcrafted by Ms Jarrett.

A master weaver, she makes her creations from plants foraged from country at Coffs.

And Ms Jarrett took to the runway herself – dressed in an intricate outfit.

Miimi & Jiindi, David Jones Indigenous Fashion Projects. Picture: Dylan Buckee

Indigenous singer Jessica Mauboy added to the star factor on the night thanks to a special performance.

“It was thrilling to perform on the David Jones Indigenous Fashion Projects runway and to see the work of this year’s talented designers,” she said.

Lauren Jarrett takes to the runway. Picture: Dylan Buckee

Ms Greenwood said she hoped the exposure would catapult the Coffs label to the next level.

“We are hoping to partner with some department stores but we don’t want to be mass producing,” she said.

This week’s Indigenous Fashion Projects runway featured men’s fashion for the first time.

David Jones general manager of womenswear, footwear and accessories Bridget Veals said: “The debut of two First Nations menswear brands, Gali Swimwear and Joseph & James … demonstrates the success of the program and brings us one step closer to building a more inclusive and representative fashion industry.”