DAILY TELEGRAPH
AUSTRALIAN FASHION INDUSTRY FIGHTS FOR SURVIVAL
INTERVIEW WITH ALISON LENNARD BY REMY VAGA
19 MAY 2025
Only three per cent of clothes purchased in Australia is made locally as the nation risks losing the capacity to manufacture clothing, shoes and accessories.
Cheaper clothes made overseas by companies like Temu and Shein have wreaked havoc on Australia’s local manufacturing sector as consumers choose low prices over quality and ethically made garments.
The Australian Fashion Council (AFC), federal government and leading manufacturers including R.M Williams are spearheading a push to reinvigorate textile manufacturing in Australia.
The challenges are steep. An ageing workforce means the requisite skills to manufacture clothing and other goods in Australia are at risk of disappearing.
AFC industry relations manager Sam Delgos said the median age of a textile worker was 57, meaning a large proportion of the workforce was due to retire within the next decade.
“So it’s really a matter of we have to do something now, otherwise we’ll potentially lose these skills forever,” she said.
Philosophy Australia owner Alison Lennard believes in Australia’s manufacturing future and can proudly say her brand is entirely made in Australia.
Only the fabric, which isn’t made in Australia, comes from overseas. Every other part of the process from the design to the manufacture is done onshore.
“From my sketch to it hanging on the shop floor is all done in Australia,” Ms Lennard said.
Ms Lennard is passionate about keeping Australian manufacturing local and is proud to be part of the just handful of garment manufacturers still working in Australia.
She employs eight people directly and employs more than 30 contractors as well as has contracts with multiple small factories that manufacture clothes exclusively for Philosophy Australia.
Ms Lennard said the quality of items she and other Australians produced was superior to cheap fast fashion items and delivered greater value to consumers.
“If you purchase something from us at like, $150 and you get 10 ways out of it, then that’s a much better cost per value ratio,” she said.
Westpac Managing Director SME and small business director Anthony Mathews said businesses like Philosophy Australia were rebuilding manufacturing capacity and recreating skills, jobs and supply chains.
“When they grow, the benefits flow well beyond one business, which is why backing Australian made is good for everyone,” he said.
The Back Australia series is supported by Harvey Norman, Australian Made Campaign, Westpac, Bunnings, TechnologyOne, Coles, R.M.Williams, Minerals Council of Australia. APA Group, Department of Mining and Energy (Northern Territory) and Australian Forestry Products Association.
