At Clothing The Gaps, allyship is something we talk about often. It’s a core part of how we work, what we stand for, and one way that we invite non-Indigenous people to walk alongside us.

Before we entered the fashion space—back when we were working in Aboriginal Community Controlled health—“ally” and “allyship” weren’t words we used a lot. But allyship was all around us.

We worked alongside non-Indigenous health professionals who showed up every day. They listened, learned, and stood with Mob. They didn’t always call themselves allies, but they were living the values that now define allyship for us. It was less about what you called yourself, and more about whether or not community vouched for you.

As Reconciliation Week approaches, we’ve been reflecting on what allyship really means—and how we use the word in our work today.

A non-marginalised person who actively supports and advocates for the rights, inclusion, and dignity of a marginalised group they are not part of. Source: Australian Human Rights Commission

While this captures the essence of being an ally, we’ve found that when “ally” is used as a noun and becomes a title, it can start to feel a bit fixed — like it’s something you are, rather than something you do consistently.

Allyship is a practice. It’s a way to actively challenge racism, not just passively support inclusion.

Some of the most powerful examples of allyship we’ve seen have come from people who never claimed the label at all—but showed up, stepped aside, and helped move things forward.

Allyship is a verb—an action. It’s not about being an “Ally” as an identity—it’s about committing to allyship as a behaviour every day. It’s about shifting the way you see the world, your approach to educating yourself and the actions you take in each moment – big and small. It’s a lifestyle.

Allyship requires self-reflection, cultural humility, and a willingness to confront and unlearn the biases and systems many non-Indigenous people benefit from—often without realising it.

Most importantly, allyship isn’t something that only exists during Reconciliation Week.

Over the years, we’ve heard from many non-Indigenous people who want to support First Nations people, but aren’t always sure how to do it in a culturally respectful way – especially when it came to selecting merch for their wardrobe.

One of the most common questions we get is:

“Can I wear this tee? I’m not Aboriginal, and I want to support—but I don’t want to get it wrong.”

That’s why we introduced the term “Ally Friendly” to describe some of our clothes. Ally Friendly merch is for everyone to wear but created with our Mob in our heart.

Ally Friendly is our way of saying: Yes, you’re welcome here. Yes, you can wear the tee. It’s for non-Indigenous people who want to show up in ways that are respectful, meaningful, and responsible.

Wearing Ally Friendly designs is one way to start conversations, support First Nations businesses, and visibly stand for justice and truth-telling.

We need non-Indigenous people to share the load—to actively challenge racism, to hold others accountable, to disrupt silence and complicity, and to use their voices in the rooms they’re in.

Wearing the tee comes with responsibility.
You’re not just repping a design—you’re carrying a message.

These designs are made to spark conversations. You have the power to challenge thinking and influence people in your life who might not otherwise hear these messages. And that matters.

To be honest, we didn’t expect people to need this kind of reassurance. We thought, “If you’re doing the work, you’d probably already know.” But the feedback was clear: people appreciated having this guidance. It gave them the confidence to support in a respectful and meaningful way.

We’ve loved seeing other Aboriginal brands embrace the term Ally Friendly too—because more people wearing their values the right way, helps build momentum.

But let’s be real—allyship goes way beyond what you wear.

It’s about the ongoing commitment to show up, to learn, and to back First Nations people and causes every day. Because wearing Aboriginal designs doesn’t dismantle the systems that harm our communities—but it’s a powerful place to start.

When you wear Clothing The Gaps, you’re not just supporting a brand. You’re backing an Aboriginal Social Enterprise that exists to educate and advocate for social change, and to celebrate First Nations people.

We’ve seen how a tee can spark real change:

The Free The Flag campaign.

The Yes tees for a First Nations Voice for Parliament in the 2023 Referendum.

These tees weren’t just about designs or slogans. They were about community—people wearing them with pride and purpose.

When you wore these tees, you were a walking billboard for change.

It was about more than just the tee. It was about:

• Conversations – at work, around dinner tables, and on the street
• Petitions signed
• Emails sent
• Questions asked
• Truths told

That’s what action looks like. That’s what momentum looks like. That’s what community looks like.

We also love the term “accomplice”—because it takes allyship one step further.

We encourage you to read: Where do you fit? Tokenistic, ally – or accomplice? by Summer May Finlay (Yorta Yorta).

And if you’re ready to go deeper, check out our list of recommended resources as a starting point.

Anti-Racism and Truth Telling Resource Page

We’d also love for you to contact us at hello@clothingthegaps.com.au with more resources you’d love to see added to this list.

Finally, feel free to share any reflections in the comments section below.