The Australian Fashion Council (AFC) and bootmaker R.M. Williams have launched a landmark partnership to develop Australia’s first-ever National Manufacturing Strategy for the fashion and textile industry.
According to the pair, this strategic collaboration will mobilise a nationwide effort to rebuild and future-proof the sector.
This comes amid a tariff war between the United States and China that is affecting the fashion industry, with global fashion prices expected to lift by 20 per cent according to data collected by fashion wholesaler JOOR.
It also comes as just three per cent of Australia’s $28 billion fashion industry is produced on-shore, according to the AFC.
AFC CEO Jaana Quaintance-James said the local fashion sector is at a critical tipping point, with the opportunity to grow the industry to $38 billion by 2035.
“Through deep industry consultation, we’ve identified an urgent need for a National Manufacturing Strategy – one that safeguards jobs, restores technical capability, and strengthens our global competitiveness,” Quaintance-James said.
“Rebuilding local manufacturing will deliver far-reaching economic and community benefits – from job creation and skills development to regional growth and greater participation for women. This is about securing Australia’s fashion and textile future in an increasingly uncertain global market both economically, socially, and sustainably.”
The National Manufacturing Strategy will take shape through six industry consultation sessions conducted across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and online. The first session was held in Adelaide yesterday, with the next taking place in Brisbane on May 22, then Sydney on June 4, Melbourne on June 19 and Perth to be confirmed for late June or early July.
A final strategy meeting will be held in late 2025.
The AFc confirmed the sessions will bring together manufacturers, brands and educators to map capabilities, identify critical gaps and develop targeted recommendations for both industry and governments.
Following industry consultation, the AFC and R.M. Williams will engage with key stakeholders to implement the strategy, which will be released in late 2025.
The strategy is intended to address three interconnected challenges, the AFC added, including safeguarding the industry’s $7.2 billion export contribution in an unpredictable global landscape; tackling the skills crisis and widespread technical shortages, with the median age of skilled manufacturing workers now 57; and preserving a vital source of women's economic participation, with the industry employing 500,000 Australians - 77 per cent of whom are women.
Research commissioned by the AFC estimated that every $1 million invested in returning production to Australia could generate approximately $1.2 million in economic returns through job creation, technology, strengthened local supply chains, and reduced import dependencies.
R.M. Williams remains staunch in keeping its local manufacturing output, which makes up a majority of the brand’s total production. This time last year, the brand opened its expanded Adelaide workshop with a new manufacturing line specifically for handcrafted women’s boots.
The women’s boot line had created around 70 local manufacturing jobs. This followed an $8 million dollar investment in new equipment at the workshop at Salisbury in Adelaide’s northern suburbs.
The new production line formed part of a 13,500 square metre expansion of the brand’s Adelaide workshop, with increased capacity for leather craft, apparel and footwear repairs.
R.M. Williams chief operating officer Tara Moses said the local fashion manufacturing industry is facing both challenges and opportunities.
“By partnering with the AFC, we hope to tackle systemic factors which limit growth and capability and inspire other Australian brands to produce locally,” Moses said. “We believe that quality products made by skilled Australian hands will always be valued, and we’re excited to contribute to the AFC’s vision for a National Manufacturing Strategy that supports jobs, skills, and sustainability.”
The AFC invites all Australian textile, clothing, and footwear manufacturers and industry stakeholders to join the national initiative. Industry participants can register their interest via the AFC website.