Women's footwear brand Banksia Nean is one of many new First Nations brands set to launch in 2026.

Founded by proud Barunggam and Kamilaroi woman and designer Banks Nean, the new brand — set to launch on January 27 — will centre on women's footwear which is both contemporary and culturally reflective.

This month Style Up spoke with the multi-talented creative about what consumers can expect from the Banksia Nean brand debut.

"I began my career in apparel manufacturing three years ago, where my passion for art, design, and fashion came together and first sparked the idea for my brand," Nean said.

"Over the past two years, I've worked closely with manufacturers to learn how to translate that vision into a statement shoe.

"Inspired by my preference for neutral styling paired with bold footwear, I am now preparing to launch Banksia Nean— heels that showcase designs that tell stories through Indigenous art."

When speaking on her inspiration, Nean said caring for Country is at the brand's core.

"At the heart of Banksia Nean is sharing stories and caring for Country — the land, the water, and our children," she said.

"Every style follows our model, 'Every Step, A Story', allowing women to honour culture, express themselves, and inspire young people to believe that they can pursue anything they dream of."

Nean said the brand will focus on primarily women's heels.

"Our brand focuses primarily on women's heels, with a strong emphasis on quality, storytelling and cultural integrity," she told Style Up.

"We do not engage in mass production. Each artwork is hand-painted, digitally translated, and printed onto vegan leather, with every shoe handmade for each style. Only 300 pairs are produced per style, ensuring each release remains limited and meaningful.

"We will be launching one style at a time. Our target audience is women who appreciate Indigenous art and fashion, with a strong focus on Indigenous women who want to step out feeling confident, styled and connected to culture.

"The brand is for women who value statement design, craftsmanship and storytelling, and who want to wear pieces that are bold, expressive and meaningful."

Looking ahead, Nean said whilst she is looking forward to launching and growing the brand, it will strive to always maintain cultural and environmental integrity.

"Following the launch, we plan to operate primarily as an online brand. We are also open to conversations with select boutique stores about collaborative collections, where a specific style would be created exclusively for that retailer," she said.

"A key priority for us is maintaining cultural and environmental integrity. We are intentionally steering away from mass production and large-scale manufacturing, as we are mindful of the impact fashion can have on Country and the planet.

"By keeping our releases limited and considered, we aim to create meaningful pieces without compromising our values or contributing to unnecessary waste."

For more fashion, arts, culture and lifestyle news subscribe for free to the Style Up newsletter.