Australian Women’s Small Business Champions Awards

We did it again!  

On Saturday night Kim-Marie and I attended the Australian Women’s Small Business Champions Awards, a nationwide competition hosted by Precedent Productions. We represented Team Philosophy, listed as a finalist in the Fashion category. 

We had no expectation of being called the winner, so really wanted to celebrate the recognition the nomination brings of our consistent efforts to shine a spotlight on slow and considered womenswear, and the importance of Made in Australia manufacture, especially in clothing, and neither of us need an excuse to dress up!  

The Star Casino was the perfect venue for the impressive, and extremely glamorously attired event, attended by more than 1000 guests. With a red-carpet arrival, cabaret style entertainment and a delicious dining experience the night was shaping up to be a great one. 

However, it became so much more than anticipated when it came to our category announcement early in the proceedings as our photo was shown on the big screen and Philosophy was called as the winner.  

It was a jump out of my seat moment, shortly followed by a stab of sheer panic that I was going to have to walk across the entire ballroom, up a set of stairs and across the stage in heels, whilst desperately trying to work out what I should say in acceptance and simultaneously trying to stop myself from shaking! (I’m sure my fellow winners can relate!). 

To say I was surprised was an understatement but, in saying that, I am extremely proud of our business and the Philosophy family truly deserve this award, so I also desperately hoped for the win.   

In an accompanying letter of congratulations from the judges I was informed that the application I wrote was in a standard all its own and we were a deserving winner, impressing across a framework of criteria.  

Lots of fashion companies will shout about being Australian owned, or Australian designed, but we know that our couture manufacture method, and sketch to dispatch way of being purely based in Sydney, and being able to do it on the scale that we do, is exceptional and something to be extremely proud of. Australia isn’t half of our name without good reason, and that’s why I believe we won. 

I consider Philosophy as an extended family and I’d like to thank and acknowledge the following, as everyone collectively has helped us strive for excellence in product, quality and service over my five years of ownership.  

• The several hundred boutique businesses across the nation, who make up our wholesale customer base. 💕 (who are also small female led businesses in their own right!) 
• Every online customer, if you have ever purchased and worn one of our garments, we consider you part of the family too 💕 (we all cry out “woo-hoo” with every ker’ching!) 
• The own label brands, who trust us with theirs, with an extra special mention of Nikki at Styling You 💕
• Our manufacturing partners; Stephen, Marilena, William, Anne, Minh, Janet, Ken, Dzung, George, Annie and Li. They may be small in numbers but are mighty in production capacity and each have a very important role in our processes 💕 
• Our sales agents Peta and Georgie, representing us in the other states 💕 
• The consultants and creatives who regularly help us look good. Kym, Dean, Kelly, Brooke, Kate and Stephen 💕 
• The fabric suppliers we source from and work with. We choose these businesses especially to keep our entire economy local rather than purchase components from offshore 💕 
• A very special shout out of thanks goes to each member of the in house staff. “It’s not my business, it’s ours” is something I say often, and a sentiment I truly believe. Anica, Maria, Jay, Michelle, Kim-Marie, Virginia & Noni. I’m so very grateful every day for your skills, dedication, teamwork and support 💕 

• Lastly but very importantly as any small business owner can relate, my family. Team Lennard are supportive and understanding that my time is always split, and my apologies to my son Frank, whose 13th birthday celebration I missed to be there. 💕 

I’d like to take the opportunity to also show gratitude to the team at Precedent for putting on these awards and to the extensive judging panel. After deep diving the 15 other competitors in our category, we know the decision as to who should win overall must have been a difficult one to make, as each are doing fantastic jobs in their areas, and we were in awe. I have already reached out to each to possibly collaborate with them in the future as we know that women supporting other women, can create magic 💕 

On winning the Excellence in Small Business for Sydney award with Business NSW back in June, I was completely stunned and unprepared to accept that plaque and stood on the stage, and shouted, without context, in my English accent “Australians do it better!” and I haven’t been able to live that down since.  

So, it was only right that as part of my more cohesive speech this time that I said it again.  

“Australians do it better!” Our new company motto. 

Thank you, to you too. We love our social following’s support and your ❤️ likes, comments and shares really do help us spread our message of slow and locally made is best, when it comes to fashion! 

Thank you for being on this journey with us, 

With love 

Ali x