As an extension of its support of First Nations Fashion + Design (FNFD), Epson Australia and FNFD have announced an inaugural ‘Designer-in-Residency’ Program, including selection of their first two awarded recipients. The Program has been created to empower First Nations fashion and textile designers, both emerging and established, by providing essential resources, mentorship and support from Epson and FNFD to refine their creative practices and grow their businesses.
Craig Heckenberg, Epson Australia MD with Grace Lillian Lee, FNFD founder and chairperson
Craig Heckenberg, Epson Australia MD, says: “Our extended relationship with FNFD and the launch of the Designer-in-Residency Program is a result of a natural extension of our partnership that allows Epson Australia to play a key role in several FNFD strategic initiatives which support and empower emerging First Nation fashion and textile designers in Cairns and the surrounding regions.”
Grace Lillian Lee, FNFD founder and chairperson, adds, “This Program is such an important opportunity to provide deep, tailored support for emerging First Nations designers. This year’s recipients bring unique talent and vision to the program, and we look forward to walking alongside them as they continue their creative journeys.”
Ivy Minniecon and Lisa Lui are the first two recipients to be awarded places on the Designer-in-Residency Program.
As a descendant of the Kuku Yalanji, Kabi Kabi, Gooreng Gooreng, and South Sea Islander Nations, Ivy’s art practice is deeply rooted in cultural heritage and her work is a testament to a sense of place, connection, and belonging to the Country. The primary focus of her work is the Yalanji weave of the balji, a traditional bag made from the kakan of the duwar (Black Palm), native to the Daintree Rainforest. More recently, her weaving practice has also incorporated traditional grass skirts.
Lisa Lui, a proud Dauareb woman and fashion designer from the Eastern Torres Strait Islands, captivated audiences at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair fashion performance with her abstract art collection ‘Nener’ in 2024 and ‘Bulubulu’ in 2025. Inspired by the deep connection to her heritage and the memory of her late father and mother, Lisa’s work is a vivid homage to the cultural legacy she carries and a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving the land for future generations.
The Designer-in-Residency Program is funded and fully supported by Epson Australia. It includes a broad curriculum of classes, education, mentoring and training in cultural and creative research, digital textile design exploration and printing technical development, textile collection development, and business and branding marketing. The program includes a mid-residency showcase, garment sampling and production, collaboration and innovation and culminates with a final collection showing in the 2026 FNFD fashion showcase at the 2026 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair.
