At the recent launch of The Social Outfit’s ‘High Summer’ resort fashion collection - featuring designs made with fabric digitally printed on an Epson Monna Lisa ML-8000 direct-to-fabric printer - Epson and The Social Outfit seized the opportunity to reiterate their ongoing collaboration and shared commitment to supporting an ethical and sustainable fashion industry.
Digitally printed using the Epson Monna Lisa ML-8000 direct-to-fabric printer, this ‘Sama’ print was designed by 12 women from the Chester Hill Community Hub and made by refugee and migrant women at The Social Outfit’s ethical garment manufacturing workroom in Marrickville
Craig Heckenberg, Epson A/NZ MD, says, “‘By supporting local, on-demand fabric printing, we’re helping enable ethical production and creative expression, while contributing to a more responsible and innovative textile industry.”
“It’s hard to overstate the importance of organisations such as The Social Outfit and the role they play in the sustainable fashion industry. The Social Outfit’s goals firmly align with Epson’s and that’s why we are so committed to this partnership. As a result, we believe the future for an ethical and sustainable fashion industry in Australia looks increasingly positive and bright.”
The Social Outfit is a social enterprise charity and fashion label that creates jobs, skills and community for refugee and new migrant women. Since 2014 The Social Outfit have provided paid employment, training and mentoring to help refugee women gain their first Australian work experience and progress into meaningful work. Their approach blends social impact with environmental responsibility, producing limited-edition fashion collections from remnant and deadstock fabrics that would otherwise go to landfill.
Amy Low, The Social Outfit’s CEO adds: “When The Social Outfit team visited the Epson Experience Centre and saw the potential of the Monna Lisa direct-to-fabric printer and technology, we immediately considered what opportunities existed to provide learning opportunities and upskilling for our staff of refugee and migrant women.”
“We are thrilled that Epson could add another layer of storytelling to our community print. Epson have gone above and beyond to support our vision, from being hands on with the selection of fabric, to the printing process via their Monna Lisa printer and then printing elements to be included in our campaign imagery.”
(l-r) Epson Australia environment and sustainability manager Fatida Un, The Social Outfit ambassador Bianca Spender, Epson A/NZ corporate marketing manager Priscilla Dickason and The Social Outfit CEO Amy LowOne example of the designs printed and brought to life by Epson on the night and part of The Social Outfit’s new High Summer collection was a community print story called ‘Sama’. Digitally printed using the Epson Monna Lisa ML-8000 direct-to-fabric printer, this unique print displayed designs by 12 women from the Chester Hill Community Hub and the dress was made by refugee and migrant women in The Social Outfit’s ethical garment manufacturing workroom in Marrickville.
As the partnership has grown, Epson has provided both financial and in-kind support to The Social Outfit, including large-format printing for photoshoots and window displays, as well as through its print and projection technology for events like the Refugee Week celebration earlier this year.
Low concludes: “Our partnership with Epson has allowed us to explore what it looks like to create a fully Australian manufactured garment. From printing all the way through to garment production and the experience we can provide to customers in our Newtown store.”
