Designers from three First Nations fashion labels, who led in a pilot incubator hosted by First Nations Fashion + Design (FNFD) and The Iconic, have had their unique designs digitised and printed by printing company Epson.
The First Nations fashion designers include Gunggandji designer Elverina Johnson of label Pink Fish; Mt. Isa designers Glenda, Jaunita, Dale and Cheryl Mcculloch of label Myrrdah; and Kuranda-based designer Briana Enoch of label Jarawee.
In early 2023, the designers were shortlisted and handpicked by an expert panel from the fashion, design and First Nations communities. They took part in the program from April 2023.
FNFD founder and chairperson Grace Lillian Lee said Epson’s applications and training specialist Derek Mobbs brought over one of the company’s printers to scan and digitise the artists’ paintings.
“Derek then spent time knitting the images together to make a repeat print that could be printed at length,” Lillian Lee said. “There was a lot of care taken by the team at Epson to respectfully adjust the prints in order for them to become textile designs, with Derek consulting with each designer to make sure that he wasn't changing the story of their artworks.
“First Nations artists and designers use their works as a form of storytelling and the integrity of these stories were very important to Derek and his process.”
Epson Australia managing director Craig Heckenberg said it was a privilege to see the work of the First Nations designers
“Clearly the team at FNFD are very grateful for all the support and time provided by Epson to the winning designers who took part in The Incubator program,” he said.
Lee said the team at Epson spent time with the designers to ensure the gifted fabric was the correct format, size and configuration.
“The gifted fabric allowed the designers to play with scale and placement of their prints without price being a barrier,” she said. “It also enabled them access to a large quantity of great quality fabrics for the sampling of their ranges so that they could meet quicker than usual deadlines for production and photoshoots.”
According to Epson, the designers were able to skip the toile stage of their sampling - usually done on a plain calico to save money - and do it immediately, in the moment and with the fabric they eventually intended to use in final production.
“The designers were so happy with their fabrics that they ordered bigger quantities for their manufacturing component of the program,” Lee said. “Selected pieces and designs will be stocked on The Iconic website from January 31 and will be showcased at the upcoming FNFD X The Iconic event at the China Heights Gallery in Surry Hills on the same date.”