In an exciting collaboration that bridges urban sophistication with Indigenous Australian heritage, two emerging labels – eyewear brand VAANYARD and fashion brand Solid Ochre have created a limited-edition capsule collection.
The collaboration, which debuted at Melbourne Fashion Festival’s Emerging Mob in Fashion Runway segment, represents a significant milestone in Australian fashion’s journey toward greater Indigenous representation.
The partnership evolved organically after Solid Ochre’s founder, prominent First Nations model Nathan McGuire, was featured wearing VAANYARD frames in publications including GQ and Esquire. “I started wearing their frames at Australian Fashion Week,” McGuire explained to mivision. “Once I launched Solid Ochre, the team approached me about having a collaboration around eyewear because it’s such a big part of my personal style.”
The collection, comprising four distinct models, seamlessly integrates VAANYARD’s urban aesthetic with Solid Ochre’s cultural storytelling. Each piece features Mazzuchelli acetate frames in classic black, complemented by specially developed Zeiss lenses that pay homage to Indigenous connections to country. The two signature lens colours – a gradient ochre that reflects the earth and a horizon blue that represents the sky – were carefully chosen to embody these cultural elements.
Paul Gilligan, who founded VAANYARD with Lee Kan, describes the collaboration as “truly Australian” in its essence. “We are very city, we’re a very urban kind of brand. We’re not beach, we’re not country. But Nathan is very much about his country and the culture and the colours of his country. And I think it’s timely to reflect that,” says Gilligan.
Meaningful Cultural Elements
The collection’s design philosophy draws inspiration from Solid Ochre’s colour theory storytelling, which incorporates four staple colours, each holding deep cultural significance: brown reflecting country, black representing people, white symbolising the ochre used in Indigenous storytelling that unites all nations, and blue connecting to McGuire’s personal heritage and family dreaming stories.
McGuire said his involvement in the design process was comprehensive, from conception to delivery. “What was really cool is that they allowed me to express myself very freely, and they came up with design solutions that really reflected that partnership,” he notes. The result is a harmonious blend that maintains VAANYARD’s commitment to sleek, considered design while incorporating meaningful cultural elements.
The collaboration comes at a pivotal time for VAANYARD, which has been making serious inroads into both domestic and international markets. Following their successful showcase at Melbourne Fashion Festival, the brand was selected for the prestigious Volvo Electric Runway at Melbourne Fashion Week 2024. Their presence in Asian markets has also grown significantly, with distributors reporting unprecedented interest in the VAANYARD’s bold, distinctive aesthetic.
Amping it Up
Both parties view this collection as just the beginning of a longer-term partnership. “This is stage one of the collaboration. We’re going to be building this over the next couple of years,” Gilligan reveals.
McGuire echoes his sentiment, expressing enthusiasm about future collaborations: “I love working with these boys. They’re so generous and creative… Stage two we’re going to amp it up and bring out something really special.”
It’s a “timely collaboration” that demonstrates how fashion can bridge cultural narratives to present some of Australia’s most exciting emerging talent and Indigenous heritage to the world.
