Australian bootmaker R.M.Williams has expanded its Adelaide workshop with a new manufacturing line specifically for handcrafted women’s boots.
The expansion comes as the Tattarang-owned retailer reports a growing female customer base, with a new arm allowing for more diverse and higher quantity productions.
The women’s boot line will create 70 local manufacturing jobs. This follows an $8 million investment in new equipment at the workshop at Salisbury in Adelaide’s northern suburbs.
R.M.Williams will now offer seven distinct women’s styles of Chelsea boots with a range of heel heights and types - all designed by women.
The new production line is part of a 13,500 square metre expansion of the brand’s Adelaide workshop, with increased capacity for leather craft, apparel and footwear repairs.
The investment means there are now separate, dedicated manufacturing lines for men’s and women’s boots, passing through 80 pairs of hands, and providing increased capacity to produce all styles.
R.M.Williams CEO Paul Grosmann said women are the fastest-growing customer segment.
“R.M.Williams is a brand for all Australians,” Grosmann said. “Women have played a vital role in the growth and development of this business since its inception in 1932, and we are passionate about giving women a diverse collection of quality products.
“Also, the Australian women’s footwear market is larger than the men’s market and is also growing at a faster rate in Australia.”
As part of the investment, R.M.Williams has also introduced the Industrial Sewing certification in conjunction with TAFE South Australia, after taking its first cohort of apprentices in the Leather Cert III course last year.
Tattarang director and R.M.Williams board member Nicola Forrest AO said the company is committed to investing in sustainable local manufacturing and supporting new careers in Australian craftsmanship.
“As RM realised almost a century ago, women across Australia had equal need for elegant yet resilient boots and workwear that could withstand the rigours of living and working on the land,” Forrest said.
“Today we are investing in the next chapter of this history together with talented women in leadership positions working on every step of the boot-making process, proudly making products for women by women.
“I have worn RMs all my life but today I could not be more proud of the direction our team and our company are heading towards.”
Tattarang chairman Dr Andrew Forrest AO said R.M.Williams has already created 350 new jobs across Australia since late 2020.
“In just over three years, Tattarang has increased R.M.Williams’ manufacturing workforce by more than a third, with 500 people now employed at the Adelaide Workshop and Distribution Centre,” Dr Forrest said.
“R.M.Williams is the only Australian company whose iconic boots are made in Australia by Australians from one piece of leather – all others are manufactured offshore.”
South Australian Minister for Tourism and Multicultural Affairs and Member for Ramsay, Zoe Bettison said the State Government is pleased to see this continued investment in local manufacturing and training opportunities in South Australia.
“I am so thrilled to see R.M.Williams expanding again after having already made an $8 million dollar investment in new equipment at the workshop at Salisbury,” Bettison said.
“Having already created 350 new jobs across Australia since late 2020, R.M.Williams today also announced new training opportunities for young Australians. This means more jobs and new training opportunities for the locals and all the young aspiring craftsmen and women who seek to explore a career in manufacturing.”