‘It’ brands share $2.6 million spoils

 

SYDNEY: Dion Lee, Romance Was Born, Ellery and Therese Rawsthorne will be among 63 brands to split $2.6 million in federal government funding.

Over 250 businesses applied for the latest round of government grants under the Textile, Clothing and Footwear (TCF) Small Business Program. The competitive grants program commenced in 2006/07 and aims to provide $25 million in funding to the sector over a 10-year period.

The successful grants are particularly timely for Dion Lee, Romance Was Born and  Ellery, which secured department store distribution following their Rosemount Australian Fashion Week showcases earlier this year.

Lee has been awarded $35,148 for a business mentoring program while Ellery has secured $49,643 for enterprise management software and an operational management project.

Other major funding projects include $50,000 for marketing and e-commerce at Kirrily Johnston; $43,128 for business mentoring at Josh Goot; $48,000 for systems development and mentoring at Konstantina Mittas; and $33,608 for a business mentoring program at Anna & Boy.

J’aton Couture received $43,600 for developing commercial growth potential; $50,000 for operational initiatives at Nicolangela; $44,244 for strategic growth operations at Rittenhouse; and $50,000 for a production overhaul at Friedrich Gray.

The TCF Small Business Program provides grants ranging from $17,000 to $50,000. Applications for the latest round closed on February 26, 2010.

Assia Benmedjdoub