A small popup in North Melbourne showcases the work of Indigenous artists and designers. It’s a collaboration led by Yorta Yorta - Boonwurrung woman Corina Muir, an emerging name in Australia's Indigenous fashion scene, with her business Amber Days. But Corina's vision is much larger.
“This isn't just about me. This is about our community. This is about our women. This is about how we can use our platform to make a change,” she says.
The change Corina is referring to is taking Indigenous fashion to the wider world, and her popup is just the start.
Corina Muir with one of her designs at the North Melbourne popup Credit: SBS / Scott Cardwell
"And while it's fantastic that we're having incredible First Nations runways, I would like to see First Nations designers on all the runways.”
It’s an ambitious goal for the 33-year-old whose business venture started in 2018 soon after she gave birth to a daughter, Sapphire.
The challenge of finding sustainable childrens’ wear was part of the motivation.
Corina's range for children is ethical and sustainable Credit: SBS / Scott Cardwell
“We use non-toxic dyes with all of our fabrics and we use fair trade manufacturing, plus all of our fabrics are certified Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS),” she says.
GOTS is used to define globally recognised requirements for organic textiles. From the harvesting of the raw materials, environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing to labelling, textiles certified to GOTS provide a credible assurance to the consumer.
Running her own venture has also given Corina the flexibility to raise her daughter outside the nine-to-five grind.
“I felt really torn around my options as a single mum. And I felt like I had to go back to work full time and be away from her because we didn't have a second income in the family.
“So that was definitely a huge push for me to start Amber Days as my full-time business, to give me more time to be around my daughter. And it has been amazing.”
Amber Days produces ethical and sustainable clothing in collaboration with other Indigenous women.
“So each collection is me and another Aboriginal woman working together to bring our stories into wearable artwork,” Corina says.
Corina's adult range was shown on the Indigenous runway in Melbourne Credit: SBS / Scott Cardwell
“That was a really, really special collection that I'm very proud of,” she says. “Everything was printed on silk, so it was beautiful to touch as well.”
While Corina still produces children’s wear, her business has expanded into adult clothing too – especially tailored for mothers.
Corina with a customer at the North Melbourne popup Credit: SBS / Scott cardwell
These are just a few of the reasons Corina’s business is thriving - with orders coming from far and wide.
“We definitely have a global customer base, with quite a few orders coming from the UK, USA, Canada and Singapore.
“Our customers really love our fabrics because they are ethical and sustainably produced, as well as high quality.
“So when you are dressing your baby, you know that you're not putting chemicals on their skin, and that's really special too.”
However, running a startup in recent years has not been easy. Like many Melbourne founders, Corina struggled with the impact of extended pandemic restrictions.
“During COVID-19 the price of organic fabrics went up really high which was hard for a small business to absorb.
“We also faced huge [supply chain] delays. But perhaps the hardest part for our business was my mental health.
“When you're working on your own and you've got a business on your own, mental health is key to keeping it going. And if that’s suffering, then it can be really difficult.
“So, towards the end [of lockdown] I found it really hard.”
Corina’s business is expanding again, thanks to strong financial foundations she put in place early on, with support from Indigenous Business Australia (IBA).
IBA's Senior Business Development Manager David Deo Credit: SBS / Scott Cardwell
“She is also a woman of colour, which is incredibly important to me.
“She has taught me about bookkeeping and accounting and she explains what she's doing so I know what's going on as well.”
Corina Muir with one of her muslin wraps Credit: SBS / Scott Cardwell
"Corina had an idea and the passion for her business and she looked to IBA for support to build business acumen and financial literacy skills," David says.
“IBA supported Corina to build her business from the ground up by connecting her with the right professional services – to provide bookkeeping support and find consultants for pattern making."
“A business impact assessment helped better understand her business, to identify gaps and address any financial management issues, like taxation and due diligence review.”
Corina Muir is poised to expand this year Credit: SBS / Scott Cardwell
For his part, David Deo is proud to watch Corina continually grow the business.
“She is an inspiration to women who want to make a difference.
“IBA is committed to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entrepreneurs and business founders to build the knowledge, skills and capabilities they need for successful businesses.
“In Corina's case, we see someone who's always trying to grow, so at the end of the day, her success is our success as well.”
Check out Corina's designs at or for more information about Indigenous Business Australia go to
