Australia's 'outback fashion capital' promotes healing through fashion
Model Billie-Jean Hamlet returns to Fitzroy Crossing to mentor participants. (Supplied: Marra Worra Worra, Isabelle Grand'Eury)
It has been almost three years since once-in-a-century floods devastated a small town in Western Australia's far north, and while infrastructure has been rebuilt, emotional scars remain.
Fitzroy Crossing, more than 2,000 kilometres north of Perth, has also been dubbed the "outback fashion capital" of Australia; a home to a swathe of international models, designers and artists.
This year, that talent was used to promote healing from the floods through fashion.
Building confidence
The After the Flood Fashion Project initiated by Marra Worra Worra Aboriginal Corporation (MWW) transformed the old Fitzroy Crossing bridge into a fashion runway, with residents modelling local designs illuminated by the sunset.
Resident and MWW staff member Geneva Watson said participating in her first runway event was both daunting and rewarding.
"It was a bit nerve-racking when we were doing the rehearsal but when the show started … I didn't have a worry, wasn't stressed," she said.
Fitzroy Crossing residents model local designers' work on the runway. (Supplied: Marrra Worra Worra, Isabelle Grand'Eury)
The project, jointly funded by the Australian and West Australian governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, consisted of workshops and the final runway.
Prominent designers Camilla Sawford and Brodie George and international model Billie-Jean Hamlet returned to their home town to mentor participants.
Ms Watson said connecting with local mentors helped bolster confidence.
"It was a bit nervous at first because I really didn't know where to start and we had our beautiful mentors from here … I felt inspired by them," she said.
"Once we got the hang of it, girls walked out like superstars."
Ms Watson said it was a proud moment to be modelling Indigenous designs from her home town.
"I'm looking forward to having more of that opportunity in the future," she said.
"We had the beautiful sunset; it was just so beautiful that day."
Mentoring residents
Nowadays, Fitzroy Crossing resident and MWW worker Kahlia Rogers is used to walking on runways across Australia and overseas, but still vividly remembers the nerves of her first time.
"It was really good to help the girls out, knowing I've had that experience being on a runway, doing fashion shows," she said.
Kahlia Rogers says it was great to give back to the community. (ABC Kimberley: Marra Worra Worra, Isabelle Grand'Eury)
"This is just one of the ways you could build yourself up."
Ms Rogers said the workshops exposed participants to a range of pathways in the fashion industry and helped build up self-esteem and confidence.
"We were all proud of the young girls that gave it a go and pushed themselves out of their comfort zone," she said.
"[It built] their confidence to be able to be more confident within themselves [in their] day-to-day life."