Bio & Rationale
From a hot January experiment to a distinctive voice – Cairns-based artist and designer Melissa Madigan taught themself hand embroidery and fell for Australiana in thread. Wattles, lyrebirds, reef blues, rainforest greens – their pieces translate the tropics into texture, stitching detail with patience and care. Collaborations span commissions, fashion crossovers, and brand projects, all anchored in a love of flora, fauna, and place.
We paired Melissa’s work with our Imperial Ginger Beer because it shares a core value: craft you can feel. The needlework’s tactile depth mirrors the beer’s spicy warmth – both familiar, both proudly Australian. On a can, Melissa stitches become graphic pattern and storytelling at once, turning fabric into a small celebration of country and season.
