Gabrielle Turner and Caitlin Francis launch friendship-inspired clothing line for women in Cairns

A sustainable streetwear label founded by two childhood friends is launching in Cairns and will debut a collection at Cairns Fashion Week in June. Find out more.

Two childhood best friends have combined creative forces to launch a new womenswear label out of Far North Queensland.

Interior designer Gabrielle Turner and media professional Caitlin Francis started Alliance of Kin (AOK) last year as a “bit of fun on the side” to bring sustainable fashion to the wardrobes of busy, adventurous women.

The two ladies who grew up together in Atherton have shared many milestones and had always bonded over a shared interest in fashion and op shopping, which inspired this pet project in their 30s.

Childhood friends Gabrielle Turner and Caitlin Francis have taken their lifelong love of fashion and turned it into their own streetwear label, Alliance of Kin. The Cairns locals will showcase their new womenswear brand at the inaugural Cairns Fashion Week in June. Picture: Brendan Radke

The duo came up with the idea of a womenswear clothing line in late 2020, and built the idea and concept of the brand in 2021 before a soft launch late last year.

“It takes a lot to get a label off the ground,” Ms Turner said.

Pieces from Alliance of Kin are limited in number and sustainably crafted to last, with a focus on conscious manufacturing and the use of greener materials.

“Our custom garments are designed in Australia and made in Bali at a small, family-owned business,” Ms Turner said.

Kelsey O'Brien models new streetwear label Alliance of Kin, created by childhood friends Gabrielle Turner and Caitlin Francis. The Cairns locals will showcase their new womenswear brand at the inaugural Cairns Fashion Week in June. Picture: Brendan Radke

Ms Francis said the versatile pieces were targeted towards women on the go, to seamlessly work in different scenarios – from school drop-offs to an afternoon wine with friends.

“We have T-shirts and stand out items like pants and tops, which have an element of glamour but can be paired to look casual,” she said.

A major element of AOK’s design approach is collaboration with visual artists on a limited selection of garments.

“We worked with two artists for our first drop – talented local Aboriginal creative Jedess Hudson, and Riikka Fransila, a collage artist from Helsinki in Finland,” Ms Turner said.

Alliance of Kin is stocked online and at popular Cairns boutique Gypsett, and will co-host a sip and shop event next month at Arte in Crystalbrook Bailey featuring live music by Great Stanley.

The label will also debut a new collection titled Dune at the inaugural Cairns Fashion Week event in June.

Originally published as Gabrielle Turner and Caitlin Francis launch friendship-inspired clothing line for women in Cairns