Epson strengthens its commitment to The Social Outfit and Refugee Week 2026
Epson has strengthened its commitment to social impact this Refugee Week 2026 through its extended partnership with The Social Outfit, a Sydney-based social enterprise and fashion label that supports refugee and migrant women through employment, training, and education opportunities in the Australian fashion industry.
Timed with Refugee Week from Sunday 14 June to Saturday 20 June 2026, the extended collaboration will raise awareness of The Social Outfit’s flagship First Things First fundraising campaign and spotlight the role technology can play in advancing ethical manufacturing, local production and meaningful employment pathways.
The partnership began during Refugee Week 2025, when Epson supported The Social Outfit’s Wear the Change fundraising campaign through immersive projection installations, in-store activations, and event support, designed to raise awareness and funds for refugee and migrant women entering the workforce.
Since then, the collaboration has evolved through a series of creative, sustainability-led and community-focused activations.
The company says that highlights of the partnership include a growing slate of storytelling and textile-based initiatives such as The Social Outfit’s Sama community print collection produced using Epson’s Monna Lisa direct-to-fabric printing technology, alongside large-format print, visual display installations, campaign imagery and event activations that bring The Social Outfit’s stories and collections to life.
This year, Epson says its support for First Things First underscores the urgency and impact of The Social Outfit’s mission. The campaign raises funds for non-profit programs that help women from refugee and new migrant backgrounds secure first jobs, build skills through training and access long-term employment pathways across fashion and retail.
The women face systemic barriers to finding work, and The Social Outfit creates opportunities that recognise their skills, build financial independence, and open doors to careers across the industry.
The Social Outfit’s CEO, Amy Low, said, “We are delighted that Epson is extending its partnership with The Social Outfit, further committing to Refugee Week and supporting First Things First in so many valuable ways. Everyone remembers their first job, and First Things First turns that first step into a sustainable pathway.”
The Social Outfit’s goal is to raise $100,000 during Refugee Week to fund training programs that help participants build careers, earn income and participate fully in Australian life.
Donations can be made at www.firstthingsfirst.thesocialoutfit.org
As part of the partnership, Epson will support First Things First through donation matching on one day during the campaign and by providing print production and creative support across retail and event spaces to help bring the campaign to life and broaden its reach.
This practical backing complements the technology already at the heart of the collaboration, where Epson’s textile and visual solutions help transform community-designed artworks and narratives into quality garments and immersive experiences that resonate with consumers and the fashion community alike.
Together, Epson and The Social Outfit continue to demonstrate how technology, fashion and creativity can align to support ethical manufacturing, local production and meaningful employment pathways for refugee and migrant women in Australia.
Epson A/NZ MD Craig Heckenberg added, “By pairing Epson’s industry-leading printing and display solutions with The Social Outfit’s community-driven design ethos, our partnership shows what’s possible when brands and social enterprises collaborate for long-term impact, during Refugee Week and beyond.”
