Australia’s fashion and textile sector has launched a high‑tech national strategy to rebuild local garment and textile manufacturing over the next decade, aiming to reduce heavy reliance on overseas production and position the industry as a globally competitive, technology‑enabled hub.
The Australian Fashion Council and iconic maker R.M.Williams unveiled a National Manufacturing Strategy for Australian Fashion and Textiles 2026‑2036 this month, following nearly a year of consultation with industry stakeholders, designers, educators and policymakers. The initiative is designed to reinvigorate domestic manufacturing and capture more of the economic value from the country’s natural fibre production, industry sources said.
Under the plan, the council aims to strengthen “sovereign capability” by activating demand for locally made products, developing a skilled workforce and accelerating the adoption of advanced technologies, including digital design tools, automated production systems and traceable supply chain solutions that industry backers say can help premium Australian brands differentiate globally.
The strategy, which was formally launched at Parliament House in Canberra in a session attended by members of the Parliamentary Friends of Australian Fashion and Textiles, comes at a critical moment for the sector after decades of decline in local manufacturing capacity. Currently, about 97 % of Australia’s clothing and textile products are made offshore, leaving the industry exposed to global supply chain disruptions and rising costs, the council and government officials have said.
Independent modelling commissioned for the strategy projects that domestic textile, clothing and footwear manufacturing could grow its value added to A$2.9 billion by 2030‑31 from roughly A$2.6 billion, generating an estimated A$1.4 billion economic dividend over five years and creating more than 1,000 skilled jobs, about half of which are expected to be filled by women.
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Australia’s fashion manufacturing base has eroded over decades as brands shifted production to lower‑cost markets in Asia, mirroring similar trends in other advanced economies. The new strategy does not seek to compete directly with high‑volume offshore factories, but instead to build on Australia’s strengths in premium natural fibres, high‑quality design and traceable, sustainable production, according to the council.
Government officials and industry leaders have flagged the potential for public procurement reforms to prioritise Australian‑made products as part of the demand activation pillar. Other elements include supporting shared manufacturing infrastructure and training pathways to boost workforce participation at all levels of the value chain.
While the initiative has drawn support within the fashion community and among policymakers, challenges remain, including higher domestic labour costs and the need to attract investment in advanced manufacturing technologies. Analysts say the strategy’s success will depend on sustained industry collaboration and market signals that support local production over long term cycles.
Separately, Australia’s broader manufacturing sector has been undergoing a revival under the federal government’s “Future Made in Australia” agenda, which commits billions of dollars to advanced manufacturing and domestic supply chains, though fashion has not traditionally been central to that policy.
The fashion strategy launch coincides with other developments in the Australian design ecosystem, including preparations for Australian Fashion Week 2026 in Sydney, which will showcase established and emerging designers and underline the industry’s creative strengths amid renewed focus on local production.
