The Heartbeat of the Collection – A Q&A with Melissa Greenwood
Last week, we unveiled our newest Miimi & Jiinda collection, Bambuuda Garlaawirr - “Morning Light” at Australian Fashion Week 2025 presented by Shark Beauty during the Next Gen Runway show.
Grounded in Gumbaynggirr Country and brought to life in collaboration with local makers, the collection celebrates cultural storytelling through fashion and art.
We sat down with Miimi & Jiinda founder, designer and artist Melissa Greenwood to talk all things inspiration, creative process, and what it meant to bring this story to the runway.
Q: What are the inspirations behind the collection you are showing at AFW 2025? Are there any unexpected influences that found their way into the final pieces?
The collection is inspired by the first light - the moment of creation when our hero ancestors formed the sun, moon, waterways, and mountains. It’s a deeply spiritual time in our Dreaming stories. We wanted to honour these beginnings and explore how those ancestral knowledge systems live on through Country, through our people, and through art. While the overall theme was planned, the process always allows for intuitive shifts - elements of Country, stories from family, or new learnings often make their way in naturally, and that’s the beauty of creating in this way.
Q: Are there any standout pieces you feel capture the essence of the overall collection, and can you provide any details?
Yes - there’s a hand-painted couture dress called Saltwater Nyami, which tells the story of the two sisters who created the Gaagal (ocean). It’s one of the pieces I’m most proud of. The calico flows with the movement of the body, mirroring the water across Country, and we layered symbolic patterns throughout to speak to strength, kinship, and renewal. It’s more than a garment - it’s a visual poem for the ocean and all that it sustains.
Q: Are there any specific techniques, fabrics, or silhouettes you were excited to experiment with this season?
We worked with flowing silhouettes and lightweight, natural fabrics like linen and silk - textiles that move like the stories we’re telling. We pushed further into our digital textile printing to reimagine hand-drawn artwork on different textures. We also explored structural contrast - combining softness with subtle tailoring to reflect the strength and sensitivity of womanhood and Country. The couture pieces are especially close to my heart. They feature hand-painted designs and natural weavings made from materials like lomandra, seagrass and pandanus—harvested on Gumbaynggirr Country and woven by my mum, Lauren Jarrett.
Q: What was the inspiration behind the show’s location, set design, and music? What kind of atmosphere were you hoping to create?
The Carla Zampatti runway space offered a minimalist canvas where our stories and garments could shine without distraction. We brought the energy of Country into that space through our designs and through sound. The soundtrack blended voiceovers from Gumbaynggirr Elders - my mum and Uncle Micklo - with vocals from my sister and other First Nations artists. Our aim was to create an atmosphere of reverence - an invitation to pause, feel, and connect.
Q: What do you feel makes Miimi & Jiinda unique as a label in the Australian fashion space?
We’re here to tell stories - true stories - from our culture, our family, and our connection to Country. Our garments are made-in-Australia, promoting ethical production processes limiting waste and over production. Beyond that, we’re committed to empowering mob, offering mentorships and job pathways, especially for women in our community. It’s about honouring culture and creating change at the same time.
This collection is made to be felt as much as it is worn.
Each limited edition piece tells a story with deep cultural connection. Sustainably made in Australia, each garment is adorned with unique Miimi and Jiinda artwork and made using natural fibres. Wearable artwork to be treasured for years to come.
Shop the Bambuuda Garlaawirr - Morning Light collection now and receive FREE SHIPPING until 31st May.
Order before the pre-order window closes to secure your piece.
