Industry insights with Ethical Clothing Australia

Consumers are more interested and aware than ever of where their clothes are made, whether the rights of workers are protected, and how ethical and sustainable their products are.

In line with Fashion Queensland’s mission ot support and promote Brisbane and Queensland designers, we have partnered with Ethical Clothing Australia to provide an avenue of education and support to the industry here. Watch this space for announcements of events, networking and opportunities as we grow together to promote the Queensland garment industry as part of ECA’s national platform.

Rachel Reilly is the National Manager for Ethical Clothing Australia – a not-for-profit accreditation body that protects the rights of local garment workers all across the country.

Here, she explains Ethical Clothing Australia’s mission and methods to support Australian designers and industry.

Please tell us about Ethical Clothing Australia and what you do...

Ethical Clothing Australia is an accreditation body that was set up over 20 years ago, and we really exist with one clear purpose – to protect and uphold the rights of local garment workers in Australia. We partner with the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union and work with brands and manufacturers all over Australia to ensure they are complying with Australian workplace laws and regulations to protect both their workers and their business.

Currently there are almost 500,000 workers in the textile, clothing, and footwear (TCF) industry in Australia, most employed as garment workers in manufacturing. 77% identify as women, with many from migrant or refugee backgrounds with English as an additional language. Some work in-house, in factories or studios and some are outworkers, which means they work from home, often in isolation, and are often contracted in the supply chain of brands and manufacturers.

These complex and oftentimes unseen supply chains can open the door to issues of exploitation and poor working conditions, so part of our work also focuses on the bigger systemic issues of the fashion industry that can lead to these hidden problems. We advocate at every level of government for legislation that ensures the protection of workers, and we educate consumers on what ethical fashion and manufacturing really means in Australia.

It’s big work. But we really believe in the brilliance of Australian designers and manufacturers, and we want to see the industry flourish. We believe that to do that, we need local workers who are skilled, protected, and respected.

What are the benefits of fashion labels being accredited by Ethical Clothing Australia?

Accreditation is really about a business having confidence in their own work – knowing that their entire local supply chain from design to dispatch is transparent and ethical. Consequently, accreditation also gives them such a powerful story to pass on to their customers.

With a growing focus on ethical and sustainable fashion, more consumers are asking more questions about their clothing – who made it, where and how. Businesses accredited by Ethical Clothing Australia will have the answers.

There are also a variety of other educational and marketing benefits that accreditation gives businesses – everything from industry workshops designed to support their business to grow to event opportunities with major festivals across Australia. For so many brands and businesses, becoming accredited allows them to connect with a community of likeminded brands and manufacturers, all of whom are showing their commitment to strengthening the local industry.   

What is the process for accreditation?

The first step to accreditation is talking to our team. Anyone can take the Eligibility Quiz on our website and, if they are eligible, they can book a call in straight away with an Accreditation Program Advisor, who will start to guide them through the initial application and explain the next steps.

For a business to then become accredited and to gain access to the use of the trademark to be able to communicate their accreditation to their customers, they must be compliant with all aspects of the TCFAI Award and other relevant workplace laws. This is done via a yearly audit by the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union, who we partner with to work with businesses all over the country.

The Union is able to look at all parts of a business's local supply chain from design to dispatch, taking in everything from the operations of their head office through to “on the ground” design, pattern making, cutting, sewing, outsourced work and more – all with the goal of ensuring that every worker in the chain is treated and compensated fairly.

It can be a huge undertaking for a business – as I said, supply chains in this industry can be complex – and incidents of non-compliance do come up. But that’s why, together with the Union, we collaborate with the businesses to fix issues. It's about getting a business where it needs to be, rather than punishing them if they are not!

Who can become accredited?

Any business – from the smallest to the biggest – that is manufacturing or arranging for the manufacture of clothing, textiles or footwear in Australia is eligible! Size and profit make no difference to your eligibility – we need businesses of every size to build the best Australian fashion and manufacturing industry possible! 

Some of our currently accredited businesses include sole traders who make everything themselves, designers who are outsourcing through a local supply chain and manufacturers who employ in-house workers in large factories. We also have accredited businesses whose role is offering a service to the industry, like printing or embroidery that goes on to Australian-made products.

What are the challenges facing designers in Australia in the current climate?

In short, local skilled workers. F rom conversations with our accredited businesses, we know that finding enough skilled local workers is a huge challenge for designers and manufacturers.

 To make sure that it is viable for Australian fashion to be designed and made here, we really need that piece of the puzzle around encouraging, training, supporting, and protecting local garment workers in an ongoing and dedicated way.

I consider the work we do at Ethical Clothing Australia as essential for garment workers now, but also for the next generation – we’re creating and strengthening safety nets to ensure workers in the future are protected and respected as well.

What are you excited about in fashion at the moment?

I am excited to see a renewed focus on designing and manufacturing locally. Currently, we have 117 brands and manufacturers who are accredited with Ethical Clothing Australia –including Queensland brands like Chamani, Claybourn and Bamboo Body. From these 117 businesses, we estimate that over 2000 to 3000 workers  in their local supply chains have been supported and protected by the accreditation process. That is exciting and important to think about – that for every business who chooses to become accredited, more local garment workers in Australia will benefit from better working conditions. That creates a solid foundation for the local fashion industry to thrive!

To find out more about Ethical Clothing Australia visit ethicalclothingaustralia.org.au