An invitation to wander with wonder at Ngali
The versatility of silk scarves and patterns produced by Country came together for Denni Francisco’s latest collection. Image credits: courtesy of Ngali
Nina MiyashitaMay 15, 2026 - 6:50PMVogue Australia
For proud Wiradjuri woman and designer Denni Francisco, a silk scarf can be many things. It can be twisted around the bust and tied at the nape of the neck, or wrapped around the torso and draped over one shoulder. It can be secured at the waist to fall into a rippling skirt, or knotted around the head, its ends cascading down one’s back.
Cut from silks printed with the designs of First Nations artists—a testament to Francisco’s continuous commitment to weaving culture, Country and collaboration into her work—these strong yet supple scarves have always been a signature of the designer’s label, one of Australia’s foremost Indigenous brands, Ngali. For its resort 2027 showWander with Wonderin the Museum of Contemporary Art’s cavernous Foundation Hall, Francisco embraced the versatility of Ngali’s hallmark all the more, reimagining the silk scarf in every which way, each new languid design an embodiment of the spirit of “Yindayamarra”: a call to observe deeply, and move gently, wandering through the world with intention, respect, and wonder.
A Welcome to Country in language and yiḏaki was followed by the swelling crescendo of bird song, cicadas and strings, before a light breeze picked up the first liquid look: a sleeveless shift draped with an asymmetrical poncho, in a lilac print with multi-coloured paint strokes the colour of the earth. An abundance of silk scarves, each playfully layered and styled to look decidedly different, flowed throughout the 24-strong capsule—even once or twice, tied up to be a tie itself, or finished with tassels. Not just a class in experimenting creatively and styling instinctively—and a pleasant reminder that, though we may often forget, fashion is meant to be fun—the suggestion that one doesn’t always need something new to create something novel felt true to Ngali’s long-held position as a force of sustainable fashion.
Aided by the weightlessness of their gossamer threads, Ngali’s models this year—which included the likes of renowned First Nations runway veterans Samantha Harris, Billie-Jean Hamlet and Latahlia Hickling—float through the finale as if on air. “The whole collection is about walking softly, flowing softly, and being aware of what amazing Country we have,” Francisco reflects afterwards, beaming in Sydney’s late afternoon light streaming through the MCA windows. “And the runway was just like that.”
