The Australian Fashion Council (AFC) has collaborated with Epson Australia to commission new research to quantify the value of Victoria's textile, clothing & footwear (TCF) manufacturing sector.

The report, titled 'Moving the Needle: The State of Play of Victoria’s Textile, Clothing & Footwear Manufacturing Sector', was compiled by RMIT, with the research revealing Victoria's TCF manufacturing industry is valued at $960 million and employs 10,300 people - more than any other state.

The state's TCF exports are valued at $318 million, $100 million more than its wine exports. The findings position Victoria as a potential leader in Australia's transition into a circular and sustainable economy, due to its complete clothing ecosystem, including fibre, manufacturing, retail, wholesale, repair and second-hand retail.

AFC Chair, Marianne Perkovic, said: “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. 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.”

RMIT Associate Dean of Fashion and Textiles Technology, Dr Jenny Underwood, said: “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.”

The report also highlights the potential of microfactories, which have allowed small, on-demand and quick-to-market merchandise offerings to inject new vitality into the industry.

“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," said Epson Australia Managing Director, Craig Heckenberg.

The AFC is urging policymakers to provide targeted funding and support to catalyse the growth of the industry through activities such as microfactories, bolstering the circular economy and securing a prosperous, sustainable future for this vital sector.

“We call upon policymakers to provide targeted funding and support that can be a catalyst for the growth of our industry through activities such as microfactories, bolstering the circular economy and securing a prosperous, sustainable future for this vital sector. We are excited to release the final report in April and reveal how this overlooked and undervalued sector can deliver even more than $960 million,” said Perkovic.

Epson Australia reinforced its commitment to supporting and helping grow the fashion and textile industry using its local expertise and resources.

“Our partnership with the AFC has allowed us to reveal game-changing data that will be an important tool to advance and futureproof an industry with huge potential, both economically and environmentally," said Heckenberg. "We are excited at the prospect and promise these first insights show and for Epson Australia to play a significant part in this journey.”