At the sold-out opening night of Melbourne Fashion Week, was a crowd eager to see the latest First Nations designs from labels across Australia.

Among them was artist Lia Tabrah, who was wearing half a dozen items from local designers including a purse of cane toad hide from her own brand, Vermin the Label.

"I specifically love the First Nations runway, I find the connection to country just inspiring and refreshing," she said.

"It doesn't feel pretentious and obnoxious and competitive, it just feels spiritual and intuitive."

The ganbu marra runway, staged at a recently opened Docklands hotel, was styled in a western theme with cacti props, cowboy hats, and RM Williams boots.

Pilbara brand Kaninda was the first of the night, with a model carrying a football, in printed shorts - and a T

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