Nisa Pop-Up

Wellington-based basics label Nisa is set to open its drawers to Australian consumers with its range of ethically-produced underwear to be presented for the first time as a part of this year’s PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival.

In a fun Pop-Up, run in partnership with The Social Studio, a Melbourne-based social enterprise providing work and learning opportunities for Melbourne's refugee and new migrant communities, the brand will present key items from its colourful range, including briefs, bralettes, and socks.

Nisa Founder Elisha Watson quit her job as a lawyer to start Nisa in 2017, after volunteering at the Red Cross’ refugee resettlement programme in Aotearoa (New Zealand). She noticed that many former refugee women had sewing experience, however lacked the language skills and local work experience required to find work. Nisa started life as a sewing workshop to provide employment for these women.

Since then, the brand has employed 24 women from refugee and migrant backgrounds, and produces beautiful, size-inclusive (XS to 4XL) underwear, activewear, swimwear and loungewear for all genders.

“Like The Social Studio, we support women from refugee backgrounds, we offer employment opportunities that matter, and we use eco-friendly fabrics and production techniques to minimise our impact on the planet,” Elisha says.

Nisa’s swimwear and activewear is made from recycled fabric that utilises plastic bottles, discarded clothes, ghost fishing nets, textile waste, while the underwear collections are made from organic cotton. Nisa manufactures all of their garments in-house, with every single stitch sewn by someone’s hands, rather than mass produced.

The Pop-Up will present the very first opportunity for Aussies to try on garments in person, and learn more about Nisa's processes and philosophy.

Free, but registration required.