Victoria’s textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) manufacturing industry is valued at $960 million in economic value and employs 10,300 people - more than any other state or territory.
The data comes from quantified research by RMIT University under commission from the Australian Fashion Council (AFC) in partnership with Epson Australia, with a full report due to be released in April.
It is the first time ever that the sector has been valued.
Within the $1 billion valuation, Victoria’s TCF sector exports are valued at $318 million, which is $100 million more than its wine exports, and has grown 9 per cent year-on-year.
The report also found that Victoria is best positioned to lead Australia’s transition into a circular and sustainable economy due to its most complete clothing ecosystem, including fibre, manufacturing, retail, wholesale, repair and second-hand retail.
AFC chair Marianne Perkovic said Victoria has a unique opportunity to supply sustainable, high-quality products through a ‘farm to front row’ approach.
“Victoria can be a global leader in advanced, sustainable manufacturing, while boosting jobs and developing skills in an industry that generates a huge $960 million,” Perkovic said.
“And this is only the beginning of what this industry can transform into, not only economically but environmentally, accelerating our just-transformation into a circular economy by 2030 and net zero by 2050.”
Despite a sharp decline in Australian manufacturing, generally this initial research shows employment, exports, imports and revenue in the TCF sector have stabilised.
The AFC is now calling for hidden parts of the industry to be reclassified and for the ABS to provide true data that ultimately support further education, training and upskilling in the sector.
“By taking into account every phase of the life cycle of clothing changes how we understand the industry - from being linear to circular, the jobs and skills of the future, and how we can better support diverse career pathways for women across the sector,” RMIT associate dean of fashion and textiles technology Dr Jenny Underwood said.
Another recommendation from the report is to optimise microfactories.
“By embracing the latest digital printing technology with localised, demand-driven manufacturing, these nimble entities significantly reduce waste and enhance efficiency, aligning perfectly with the principles of the circular economy while delivering speed to market,” Epson Australia managing director Craig Heckenberg said.
Perkovic agreed and called on policymakers to provide targeted funding and support to grow the industry through areas such as microfactories.
The initial report findings are available from today on the AFC website, with the full report - titled ‘Moving the Needle: The State of Play of Victoria’s Textile, Clothing & Footwear Manufacturing Sector’ - to be released in April.