The Intersection Of Fashion And Cultural Respect
I’m not First Nations, but I want to wear First Nations fashion. Is that okay?
If you’re not First Nations yourself, you may have found yourself asking if it is okay for you to wear First Nations fashion.
What can you buy? How do First Nations people feel about ally wear?
To help answer this, I spoke with 20 First Nations Knowledge Holders from Tarntanya/Adelaide, Naarm/Melbourne and Warrane/Sydney to hear their perspectives on ally wear, respect and responsibility.
Overall, Knowledge Holders said it’s tricky. Wearing clothes by a First Nations designer or brand as an ally can be a good way to show support if you’re being respectful and genuine. But it can also feel empty or even hurtful if it’s just for show.
When ally wear is welcomed
For several of the Knowledge Holders I sp...










