DONNA KARAN is associated with the fashion capitals of the world: New York, Paris ... Redfern?

The US designer made a visit to the inner-Sydney suburb yesterday to meet children from the Aboriginal community and support Australian photographer Russell James at the launch of a reconciliation project.

James's Nomad Two Worlds exhibition is a collaboration with hip-hoppers Black Eyed Peas and indigenous artist and singer Clifton Bieundurry, and inspired by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's apology to the Stolen Generation in February last year.

Karan said the project was similar to the work she did with her Urban Zen Foundation, based in the US.

"When Russell told me he was coming here to Australia, would I join in on this trip, I said, 'As long as I can go to Bondi Beach and hit the waters'," Karan said yesterday.

"We're going out to the [Great Barrier] reef and I'm going to the outback with Russell."

When asked whether the Australian culture could influence her next collection, she said: "Oh, absolutely. That's what Urban Zen is – it's about preserving those cultures. It is so much a part of who I am. I think we're in a world style at the moment."

Karan arrived in Sydney last week and celebrated her 61st birthday at Astral Restaurant in Star City Casino on Friday night, attended by Rumer Willis, her friend Demi Moore's daughter with Bruce Willis, and DJed by the Black Eyed Peas' Will.I.am.

Black Eyed Peas' singer Taboo – born Jaime Luis Gomez – visited Redfern yesterday and met some of the project's young members in their recording studio.

He said that as a Mexican with native American roots, he related to the plight of the Aboriginal people on a personal level.

"It all represents the struggles that I've gone through as an indigenous person," Gomez, 34, said.

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