Fusing Sands was a collaborative project between Christy Van Der Heyden and Francoise Lane. Christy is an award winning fashion designer and stylist. Francoise is a designer, artist and textile designer. The duo worked together to position and scale the artwork applied to Christy's desert inspired wearables. 

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A preview of the Fusing Sands Collection was exhibited at Cairns Indigenous Art Fair's 2017 Fashion Performance. Global Indigenous Management exhibited three looks at the Melbourne Spring Fashion Week 2017 at the Melbourne Town Hall. 

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An exhibition was held at the Tanks Art Centre, Cairns celebrating the fusing of desert inspired wearables meeting with the saltwater inspired artworks and textiles. The full Fusing Sands collection was exhibited. Francoise hand painted the Fishy Tales artwork to recycled character doors sourced locally to accompany the garments. Christy produced a creative photographic series with the olive, rust and grey Fusing Sands garments mounted alongside the displayed garments and painted doors. 

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The collaboration afforded both Christy and Francoise the opportunity for professional development with the support of Queensland Government's RADF and the Commonwealth Government's RAF.

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Photography: Tim Ashton Photography

Stylist: Christy Van Der Heyden

Makeup and Hair: Savvy, Cairns, Qld.

Studio: Photography studio, Creative Industries, JCU Cairns.

Special thanks to Creative Industries Lecturers Russell Milledge and Ann Vaerdanega for your support.