The Australian Fashion Council (AFC) and R.M.Williams have launched the National Manufacturing Strategy for Australian Fashion and Textiles 2026 - 2036 at Parliament House.
This is the first coordinated national roadmap to rebuild targeted domestic manufacturing capability across Australia's textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) sector.
The ten-year Strategy is the result of almost a year of industry consultation led by the AFC and R.M.Williams, including 14 national consultations with manufacturers, brands, educators and policymakers across the country.
More than 300 stakeholders contributed to the process, generating over 1,000 proposed initiatives and nearly 900 votes on strategic priorities to shape the sector’s long-term manufacturing future.
The Strategy comes at a critical time for the industry. With 97 percent of Australia’s clothing and textile products manufactured offshore, the sector remains vulnerable to ongoing global supply disruptions and trade volatility.
Rather than compete with high-volume offshore manufacturing markets, the Strategy is focused on closing structural gaps and accelerating advanced manufacturing to scale the sector’s comparative advantage, aiming to position Australia to compete globally in premium, technology-enabled, and traceable production built on the country’s natural fibre strengths.
Independent modelling by RMIT University and RPS projects that full implementation of the Strategy's coordinated policy platform will grow TCF manufacturing value added from AUD 2.6 billion to AUD 2.9 billion by 2030/31, delivering a cumulative AUD 1.4 billion economic dividend over five years.
The Strategy is also projected to create more than 1,000 new skilled jobs and AUD 864 million in additional wages, with approximately half of those jobs projected to be filled by women.
“This Strategy sets out a clear roadmap for rebuilding a globally competitive Australian fashion and textile manufacturing sector. Australia already has exceptional design talent, advanced manufacturing capability and globally recognised brands,” said Marianne Perkovic, Executive Chair, Australian Fashion Council.
“With the right coordination across industry, skills and procurement policy, we have a real opportunity to strengthen sovereign capability, create skilled jobs and position Australia as a leader in premium manufacturing.”
The AFC and R.M.Williams also produced a short film titled ‘Made Here, Worn Everywhere’ profiling AFC members, including Australian Defence Apparel, The Social Outfit, Maara Collective, Citizen Wolf, Waverley Mills and Silver Fleece, highlighting the diversity of manufacturing already taking place across Australia.
The Strategy will be led by the Australian Fashion Council, the sector's peak body. Progress will be measured through a two-stage assessment framework.
