The Australian Fashion Council (AFC) has been awarded a $1 million grant from the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (DISER).
The grant will be used to fund a two-step project which will first; establish a clear identity and trademark for Australian fashion brands to heighten demand and awareness of Australian fashion both domestically and overseas; and, second; will work to create more local manufacturing.
Speaking to Ragtrader, AFC CEO Leila Naja Hibri said the first phase is focused on heightening the profile of Australia's vibrant fashion industry.
"The idea was that we need to as an industry, identify Australian fashion, in terms of branding, brand positioning, and messaging.
"Minister Andrews actually wants a trademark where people can licence it and say 'yes, I am an Australian fashion brand.'
"And it doesn't have to be only if you manufacture in Australia.
"You can't just look at manufacturing Australia, that's only a small part of the value chain for Australian fashion brands.
"There's all sorts of things here from product development, design, marketing, sales, logistics and the end-of-life management," she said.
The grant comes after consultations with an industry roundtable which included the late Carla Zampatti, Cue director Justin Levis, Nobody Denim co-founder and chairman John Condilis, RMIT University Dean, School of Fashion and Textiles Professor Robyn Healy, Vogue Australia editor in chief Edwina McCann, McKinsey partner Jenny Child, AFC representatives and Australian Wool Innovation and The Woolmark Company CEO Stuart McCullough.
The first phase of the project will be supported by a marketing campaign that will help to raise the profile of Australian fashion brands.
Meanwhile, in the second phase, Hibri said that the focus will be on upskilling the industry to bring jobs back onshore.
"The first phase is for us to create demand for Australian brands and also to create jobs because that's what our businesses need, they need a cash inflow.
"Then the focus is on, 'how do we get the industry skilled up? How do we get the right infrastructure in place in terms of manufacturing and, and in terms of technology?'
"It's not about, 'let's move local manufacturing right this moment,' because that needs work.
"We need the expertise, we need the skill sets, we need advanced manufacturing capabilities, we need technology capabilities, we need government assistance - in terms of policy and taxes - we need an ability to manage waste that comes from the local manufacturing and the impact on the environment," she said.
The AFC will get to work on the project once the first instalment of the grant is allocated, which is set to occur in the next month.
The organisation will then receive another instalment in the new financial year.