The Australian Fashion Council (AFC) and R.M.Williams have unveiled a ten-year plan aimed at strengthening domestic manufacturing across Australia’s fashion and textile sector, outlining a coordinated national strategy intended to rebuild capability in textile, clothing and footwear production.
The National Manufacturing Strategy for Australian Fashion and Textiles 2026-2036, launched at Parliament House in Canberra, sets out a roadmap to expand advanced manufacturing, support workforce development and capture more value from Australia’s natural fibre resources.
According to the AFC, the initiative represents the first industry-backed national framework specifically focused on scaling manufacturing capacity in the sector.
The strategy was developed following nearly a year of industry consultation led by the AFC and R.M.Williams, including 14 consultations with manufacturers, brands, educators and policymakers nationwide.
More than 300 stakeholders participated, generating over 1,000 proposed initiatives and nearly 900 votes on strategic priorities intended to guide the sector’s manufacturing direction over the next decade.
Speaking at the launch, AFC executive chair Marianne Perkovic said the plan outlines a pathway to strengthen domestic manufacturing capability while positioning Australia within higher-value segments of global production.
“This Strategy sets out a clear roadmap for rebuilding a globally competitive Australian fashion and textile manufacturing sector,” Perkovic said.
“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.”
Industry representatives say the strategy comes at a time when most clothing and textile goods sold in Australia are produced overseas.
The AFC noted that around 97 per cent of the country’s clothing and textile products are manufactured offshore, leaving the sector exposed to global supply chain disruptions and shifting trade conditions.
Rather than competing with large-scale overseas production hubs, the strategy focuses on developing specialised manufacturing capabilities built around premium products, traceable supply chains and technology-enabled production using Australian natural fibres.
Samantha Delgos, general manager at the AFC, said rebuilding parts of the domestic value chain would allow the country to retain more economic value from its raw materials.
“Australia is the world’s largest exporter of greasy wool and a globally significant cotton producer. Yet we export raw fibre and import finished goods at multiples of the original value,” Delgos said. “Re-establishing fibre processing and spinning capability restores the missing link in our value chain.”
The strategy is built around three pillars: stimulating demand for Australian-made products through procurement and promotion, securing the future manufacturing workforce, and accelerating investment in advanced manufacturing technologies and infrastructure.
Tara Moses, chief operating officer at R.M.Williams, said sustained demand and workforce development would be critical for the sector’s growth.
“Demand enables investment in skills, skills enable advanced manufacturing, and technology allows Australian manufacturers to scale while maintaining quality,” Moses said. “What’s needed now is to activate that flywheel.”
Independent modelling commissioned from RMIT University and RPS suggests full implementation of the strategy’s policy platform could increase the sector’s manufacturing value added from $2.6 billion to $2.9 billion by 2030–31. The modelling also projects more than 1,000 additional skilled jobs and $864 million in additional wages over five years.
Currently, the textile, clothing and footwear manufacturing sector employs more than 27,000 Australians and contributes over $1.4 billion in wages annually, according to industry data cited by the AFC.
Women account for about 58 per cent of the workforce, significantly higher than the broader manufacturing sector, while 41 per cent of workers come from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Federal MP Matt Burnell, co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Australian Fashion & Textiles group, said the strategy provides a coordinated framework linking skills, procurement and industry capability.
“This Strategy is a serious economic blueprint for communities, supporting skilled jobs, strengthening regional manufacturing, and creating clearer pathways for women into trades and long-term manufacturing careers,” Burnell said.
The strategy will be led by the AFC, with an initial implementation phase running to 2029 to assess progress on procurement reform, capability mapping and skills initiatives, followed by a longer-term review of strategic outcomes through to 2036.
Industry supporters say the framework aims to support the broader $28 billion Australian fashion and textile sector, which employs nearly 500,000 people across its value chain.
