Miimi & Jiinda Celebrates its European Debut at Paris Fashion Week

From the heart of Gumbaynggirr Country in Australia to the very centre of Paris, what a journey. As Paris Fashion Week comes to a close, we look back with pride and gratitude on a milestone that is both deeply personal and historically significant for Miimi & Jiinda. Presenting our first European collection marked a defining moment for our Aboriginal-owned, female-led First Nations fashion house, bringing the stories, strength, and resilience of our culture to the global stage.

A Fashion Brand Rooted in First Nations Storytelling

More than a fashion brand, Miimi & Jiinda represents a cultural legacy, where ancestral storytelling, Aboriginal heritage, and matriarchal wisdom are reimagined through design.
The brand’s story is rooted in endurance: the perseverance of past generations to preserve knowledge, art, and identity despite immense challenges. This great legacy is the energy that drives every garment, making Miimi & Jiinda a personal success story and a role model for women and First Nations creatives worldwide.

The Woman Behind Miimi & Jiinda

Our founder and designer, Melissa Greenwood, embodies this spirit. An Indigenous cultural custodian, artist, and modern businesswoman, Melissa has brought her heritage, artistry, and vision to Europe with unwavering determination. Together with her family, she traveled from Gumbaynggirr Country to Paris, preparing the European production of the Gaagal Wanggaan collection in Portugal on a tight schedule, pulling off a full photoshoot, and ensuring the collection would be ready for Paris Fashion Week, all while traveling with her family and children.

A Collection of Wearable Art, Designed on Country in Australia

Our debut collection, Gaagal Wanggaan (“Ocean Breeze”), reflects this journey of ancestral storytelling and resilience. Designed on the lands of Gumbaynggirr Country, the collection honours the powerful legacy of Melissa’s grandmother, whose role in reclaiming these ancient homelands inspired the collection’s vision. Each piece carries highly unique motifs and patterns drawn from family stories, transforming them into sophisticated, contemporary expressions of Indigenous art that are immediately wearable as luxurious fashion. The colourful dresses, pants, skirts, and jackets with Aboriginal art-inspired prints capture the essence of this connection, translating culture into movement, texture, and form. Seeing these unique prints on high-quality, luxurious dresses in a Paris showroom marked a significant moment for Miimi & Jiinda’s European debut.

Sustainable Luxury, Made in Portugal

This first European collection is crafted in family-led ateliers in Portugal with the highest standards of production. Soft silks, sustainable linen, and natural fibres ensure that the collection not only looks beautiful but also embodies sustainable values. The combination of cultural storytelling, artistic precision, and sustainable craft is what makes this collection so uniquely Miimi & Jiinda.

Indigenous Australian Fashion at Paris Fashion Week

Paris Fashion Week marked more than a debut: it sparked meaningful connections, inspiration, and opportunities. We were honoured by the personal visit of the Deputy Ambassador of Australia to our showroom, by Melissa’s invitation from the Australian Ambassador to attend the Christopher Esber show, and by an invitation from Her Excellency Lynette Wood, Australian Ambassador to France, to attend a private diplomatic dinner at the Australian Ambassador’s Residence in Paris. With strong support and acclaim from the Australian community as well as European fashion professionals, Miimi & Jiinda is poised to establish itself as a successful Indigenous Australian fashion brand, marking a milestone for Aboriginal communities entering the global fashion stage.

Looking Back on a Remarkable Debut

Looking back, the achievement of this debut feels particularly remarkable given the tight schedule and immense effort required to bring a new collection to life across continents. The debut of Gaagal Wanggaan is not just a milestone, it is the beginning of a larger journey, sharing our ancestral stories, artistic expression, and sustainable cultural luxury with audiences worldwide.

Aboriginal Heritage, Contemporary Artistry

Miimi & Jiinda continues to create from a place of Aboriginal matriarchal strength and cultural continuity. Paris has reaffirmed that fashion can be a vessel for healing, connection, and celebration of the world’s oldest living culture, while showcasing how Indigenous heritage, contemporary artistry, and sustainable luxury can come together in a powerful and inspiring story.