Four Victorian fashion businesses have secured government funding to further their work as part of the four-year Creative State 2025 strategy.
Social enterprise The Social Studio, First Peoples-led streetwear brand Gammin Threads, adaptive fashion brand JAM the Label and knitwear business Hatch and Make will utilise the funding to advance their operations.
The fashion businesses form part of a larger collective of creative entities that will share in a total of more than $85 million in funding.
In total 113 Victorian creative entities including theatre companies, community organisations, large events and festivals have received the funding injection from the government.
"Delivering on key actions of the four-year Creative State 2025 strategy, this funding opens up Creative Victoria investment to new and diverse organisations across a broader array of creative sectors than ever before," Creative Victoria said in a statement.
"Some 25 of the recipients haven’t previously received multi-year government investment," the organisation said.
The Social Studio has received $400,000 in funding, Gammin Threads $200,000, JAM the Label $174,380 and Hatch and Make $194,871.
The Social Studio is set to use the funding to further its work in upcycled fashion to provide education and employment pathways for young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds.
Gammin Threads will put the money towards creating two capsule collections for 2023 in collaboration with First Peoples artist Jarra Karalinar Steel.
Meanwhile, JAM the Label use the funds to collaborate with an emerging fashion designer with a disability, and release a range of fashion-forward and inclusive/adaptive garments.
Finally, Hatch and Make will implement a best-practice pilot model for sustainable premium knitwear design and production.