Andrews says buying locally important “now more than ever”

The fashion sector is a portion of the 31,000-person Australian textile, clothing and footwear industry. It had been hard hit recently, with stores closed and gaps in supply chains exposed, said minister Karen Andrews ahead of the meeting, and “the fashion industry has faced an unprecedented drop in sales.”

“Now more than ever it’s important we all support Australian-made products where we can because the flow-on effects help keep people in jobs, allow small businesses to become part of previously off-shore supply chains, and open the door for new export markets in the long term,” she added

A recent survey of almost 200 senior members in the TCF value chain by the Australian Fashion Council has shown a resurgent desire to build local manufacture through upskilling, innovation and enterprise, according to AFC CEO Leila Naja Hibri.

The peak body represents 182 members, and was formed in 2018 by a merger of the Council of Textile & Fashion and the Australian Fashion Chamber.

Survey results released last month by the AFC found only a third of members were confident their business would survive the pandemic, and 23 per cent believed they would never recover.

Carla Zampatti, Cue and Nobody Denim would be among the roundtable’s attendees.

Picture: Nobody Denim (Emily Weaving, www.broadsheet.com.au)