The Australia France Business Association (AFBA) Board is deeply saddened by the antisemitic attack that took place yesterday at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia.

We stand in solidarity with the people of Australia, the Jewish community and all those affected by this event. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the community at this difficult time.

Australia, like France, is built on values of multiculturalism, diversity, and mutual respect. We hope to see these shared values upheld as Australians come together in unity, compassion, and peace.

We are in contact with the Australian Embassy in France to see how the business community can lend its support in any way that would be appropriate. We have also contacted the French Embassy in Australia as well as our colleagues at the French-Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FACCI).

Miimi & Jiinda: First Nation Fashion House Makes European Debut at Paris Fashion Week Miimi & Jiinda, the Aboriginal-owned, female-led First Nations fashion house, is set to make its European debut at Paris Fashion Week, bringing ancestral stories, matriarchal wisdom, and a vision of sustainable luxury to the global stage.

(Visit the Paris Showroom 1–7 October 2025:  9 Rue de Beauce, 75003 Paris)

Founded by artist and designer Melissa Greenwood, a proud Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung, and Dunghutti woman, together with her mother and master weaver Lauren Jarrett, Miimi & Jiinda has become one of Australia’s most acclaimed contemporary Indigenous fashion and art labels.

Their Paris showcase marks a historic milestone: an Aboriginal-owned, matriarch-led brand bringing First Nations culture into the European luxury fashion market.

A Matriarchal Brand Story

Miimi & Jiinda is more than fashion. It is a vessel of cultural memory, ancestral storytelling and collective healing, born from the bond between mother and daughter. Its name, meaning “Mother & Sister” in Gumbaynggirr, embodies matriarchal strength, kinship, and cultural continuity. Together, Greenwood and Jarrett transform weaving, painting, and storytelling into art forms that traverse boundaries of fashion, culture, and ceremony.

From their acclaimed runways at Australian Fashion Week to winning the Business Achievement Award at the 2025 National Indigenous Fashion Awards, Miimi & Jiinda has consistently championed reclamation, female leadership, and Indigenous storytelling. Their arrival in Paris marks not just a milestone for the brand, but a global recognition of First Nations culture, blending sustainable luxury with the ancestral knowledge of the world’s oldest living culture.

Gaagal Wanggaan: A New Collection as a Wearable Ceremony

At Paris Fashion Week, Miimi & Jiinda will unveil a preview of their Spring/Summer 2026 collection, Gaagal Wanggaan. The collection will be presented in a dedicated showroom during Paris Fashion Week, offering press, buyers, and industry insiders an exclusive preview. This deeply personal collection honours their traditional homelands, reclaimed through Native Title, Australia’s system of legally recognizing Indigenous peoples’ land rights. The recognition followed a 16-year struggle in which Greenwood’s grandmother played a pivotal role.

Meaning “South Beach” in Gumbaynggirr, Gaagal Wanggaan reflects resilience, belonging, and connection to Country and Earth. Its palette of soft coastal blues, deep ocean greens, and sandy neutrals evokes the ever-changing interplay of ocean, sand, and sky. Fluid, timeless silhouettes mirror the rhythm of waves and the Bindarray River, while natural, sustainably sourced fabrics ground the collection in cultural and ecological integrity. Each piece is designed as a wearable ceremony, carrying the spirit, memory, and stories of Country wherever it is worn.

Sustainable Luxury and Cultural Regeneration

Miimi & Jiinda works exclusively with high-quality, natural, and responsibly sourced fabrics including European Flax-certified linen, organic cotton, silks, and low-impact denim. Smaller runs and woven adornments continue to be created in Australia, preserving a living connection to homelands. Each garment is designed on Gumbaynggirr Country to be timeless, collectible, and ceremonial, affirming that true luxury embodies cultural regeneration, sustainable craft, and deeply connected to Country and Earth. For Miimi & Jiinda, sustainability is inseparable from culture.

Their European collections are now being crafted in family-led ateliers in Portugal, in a historic village dating back to 15 BC in the very same region where leading luxury houses create their garments. These ateliers, ongoingly led by women in their fourth generation, embody a lineage of craft that resonates with Gumbaynggirr values of kinship and continuity.

Looking Ahead

This Paris debut is the beginning of Miimi & Jiinda’s European journey, paving the way for a full launch into the market in 2026. Rooted in cultural integrity, sustainable craftsmanship, and a vision of Indigenous luxury, the brand carries forward the wisdom of matriarchs and the ancestral stories of Gumbaynggirr Country, now shared on one of the world’s most influential stages.

Visit the Paris Showroom 1–7 October 2025:  9 Rue de Beauce, 75003 Paris 

Showroom contact: Artem Vetemaze, +380 98 070 8057

Press contact: Cara Mancini — cara@miimiandjiinda.com | Melissa Greenwood — melissa@miimiandjiinda.com

Instagram: @miimiandjiinda

www.miimiandjiinda.com

Thanks to AFBA Corporate Member QANTAS, AFBA members and up to three immediate family members are now eligible for 15 per cent off base published fares, or 10 per cent off base Q deal and Sale fares (excluding taxes, fees and carrier charges)*.

All you have to do is enter the Promotional code below when booking your next Qantas operated flight from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Australia, New Zealand or the South Pacific Islands (excluding
Nouméa) for the discount to be applied.

Terms and conditions apply. Valid for bookings made between 10 March 2025 and 10 March 2026*.

Make your booking at https://www.qantas.com/

Email AFBA Manager Penelope for discount code at: contact@australiafranceba.org

AFBA Corporate Member Vulcan Energy Resources has achieved a significant milestone with its integrated lithium project being designated as a Strategic Project under the European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). This prestigious recognition underscores the project’s vital role in bolstering Europe’s supply of essential raw materials, particularly lithium, which is crucial for electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

Vulcan’s Zero Carbon Lithium™ Project, situated in Germany’s Upper Rhine Valley, employs an innovative approach by harnessing geothermal energy to extract lithium from underground brine reservoirs. This method not only yields battery-grade lithium hydroxide but also generates renewable energy, ensuring a sustainable and carbon-neutral production process.

The EU’s acknowledgment of Vulcan’s project as a Strategic Project amplifies momentum toward establishing Europe’s first fully domestic lithium production facility for EV batteries. This development is pivotal in reducing the continent’s reliance on imported lithium, thereby enhancing energy security and supporting the EU’s ambitious goal of transitioning to 100% electric vehicle sales by 2035.

Vulcan has already made significant strides, including producing Europe’s first sustainable lithium hydroxide at its Central Lithium Electrolysis Optimization Plant (CLEOP) in Frankfurt. This achievement marks a critical step toward a fully integrated, sustainable lithium supply chain within Europe.

Furthermore, Vulcan has secured lithium and geothermal energy licenses in France’s Alsace region, expanding its operations and reinforcing its commitment to supporting Europe’s EV transition and decarbonising local industries.

The Strategic Project designation under the CRMA not only validates Vulcan’s innovative approach but also positions Europe at the forefront of sustainable lithium production, essential for the burgeoning EV market and the continent’s broader climate objectives.

Vulcan Energy Resources is an Australian-based company, listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: VUL). While its flagship Zero Carbon Lithium™ project is located in Germany’s Upper Rhine Valley, the company was founded in Australia and maintains its corporate headquarters there.

The company was established by Dr. Francis Wedin, an Australian geologist and entrepreneur, and it has strong Australian ties in terms of its leadership, technical expertise, and investor base. Vulcan Energy leverages Australian innovation in the mining and resources sector to develop its sustainable lithium extraction technology, aimed at supporting Europe’s electric vehicle (EV) battery industry.

Learn more about Vulcan Energy Resources at their website.

We are delighted to announce that Artelia has joined AFBA as a Business Member.

ARTELIA is a global, multidisciplinary consultancy specialising in engineering, project management, and sustainable development. Their expertise and commitment to innovation make them a fantastic addition to our dynamic network of businesses strengthening ties between Australia and France.

Artelia created a subsidiary in Australia in 2020 in line with its growth strategy. Artelia brings to the Pacific region more than 30 years of experience and recognised expertise serving key accounts in the engineering, construction and industrial markets.

We look forward to collaborating with ARTELIA and supporting their journey within the AFBA community.

Learn more about Artelia at their website.