Review to shake up Oz fashion

NATIONAL: A sweeping Government review of the TCF sector promises to radically innovate the fashion industry, according to commentators.

Announcing the TCF Review on March 8 Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr confirmed its purpose would be "to develop practical and effective strategies to ensure Australia's TCF industries will be vibrant, innovative and competitive well into the future."

Conducted by Professor Roy Green, dean of Sydney's Macquarie Graduate School of Management, the review would consult closely with an industry reference group including textile industry, union, research and educational representatives.

Representing the fashion industry would be Professor Suzi Vaughan, head of fashion at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), who said she welcomed the review.

"This is really timely and I'm very pleased that the Government has acted so quickly, as it provides substantial proof that they see this as a serious industry with a future."

Vaughan said while the review would deal with the full spectrum of textile industries – from those applicable to the automobile sector to home furnishings – her role in the reference group would be to focus specifically on fashion.
"I'm definitely 'going in to bat' for the fashion industry," she said.

Vaughan also said that - aside from assessing funding and assistance packages and the economic, technological, educative barriers to success - the review would update perceptions of Australia's fashion industry.

"I think it's really important to look at what this industry actually is today; how it's not just about manufacturing but about design and innovation. People often talk about the 'TCF' or the old fashioned 'textile clothing and footwear' manufacturing sector, but globally it's increasingly common to talk specifically about 'fashion' as an industry," she said.

Vaughan hoped the review would also highlight untapped interdisciplinary synergies that could benefit Australian fashion. The fashion industry should be enabled to interact more closely with arenas like technical textiles should, she said.

"One of the constant frustrations for designers is that they yearn for access to new materials. You only have to look at the winter collections in store in the northern hemisphere to see that they are all exploring the possibilities of technical and innovative fabrics."

Jo Kellock, executive director of the Council of Textile and Fashion Industries of Australia (TFIA), said she looked forward to "working very closely with Senator Carr to implement effective strategies and practical solutions" to ensure the future of the industry.

Kellock – who unveiled discussion paper 'A Vision for Australian Apparel' (AVAA) last month - said it was hoped the TCF Review would identify potential barriers to success for the industry. It should also analyse Australia's position globally, she said.

"We can't examine ourselves internally without looking at the external pressures we face, including the environment, global sourcing, skills shortages and education."

Meanwhile Senator Carr said while the previous Howard government had ploughed over $1 billion dollars into supporting the TCF industry – mostly through the Strategic Investment Program (SIP) – it had not responded to current challenges "in any meaningful way".

"What we had was an industry on a palliative care regime." By contrast the Rudd Government believed there was a "prosperous future ahead if the right policy structures are put in place."

Along with QUT's Suzi Vaughan, the TCF Review's industry reference group would include: Brian Rush, president of the Council of Textile and Fashion Industries Australia and CEO of Australian Defence Apparel; Phillip Butt, president of the Footwear Manufacturers' Association of Australia and managing director of J. Robins & Sons; Professor Peter Forsyth from the department of Economics at Monash University; Rod McKenna, chair of the Technical Textile and Nonwoven Association and managing director of TenCate Australia; Michele O'Neil, incoming national secretary of the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia (TCFUA); Barry Tubner, national president, TCFUA; and Nigel Johnson chief of CSIRO Textile & Fibre Technology.

In a separate move, the Government would also appoint the Productivity Commission to undertake modelling on the economy-wide effects of future funding assistance options. This modelling would be released publicly to inform the TCF Review, Senator Carr said. It is understood the TCF Review's final report will be released by August 31 2008.

By Belinda Smart