Founded by proud Barunggam and Kamilaroi woman and designer Banks Nean, First Nations footwear brand Banksia Nean officially launched on Tuesday.

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

Taking to Instagram to express her joy on the launch, Nean said it was an honour to bring something beautiful to life.

"Putting each shoebox together with care: the shoes, the canvas bag, the artwork, the tissue paper, so every order feels like more than just a package. It made me want to cry. Not because of the work, but because of how proud I am to be here," she said.

"I've been up every morning from 4am, building Banksia Nean from scratch; designing the branding, crafting the website, and working with manufacturers for two years to bring something truly beautiful to life. I grew up in a home with addiction and little support. People often told me I was a "difficult kid," and for a long time, I carried that belief, even though all I was just trying to make it through. It took years of work to unlearn it and genuinely believe in myself.

"My husband and I don't have parents or grandparents to lean on, so raising children, working, and building a business has been an uphill battle without a safety net.

"Standing there, packing these shoeboxes for almost eight hours with my husband, I didn't feel exhaustion. I felt pride."

With limited releases, those interested in purchasing a pair of shoes are encouraged to do so sooner rather than later.

"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," she said.

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

"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.

The Banksia Nean website is now live.

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