THE FUTURE FOR THE AUSTRALIAN FASHION INDUSTRY

Australia is relatively new to the fashion industry but we are continuing to grow in terms of international success and emerging young designers. There are many aspects that denote Australia as a unique and promising fashion industry and these aspects will defiantly effect my own design practice.

STRENGTHS

• We have a close connection to our consumer wants and needs
• We are able to find a market that suits us in more than one fashion capital due to our diversity.
• Australia is in a good location for using Asia for mass production
• There is a growing consumer desire for Australian made products. This will strengthen the Australian fashion industry by encouraging on shore production and development.
• Enthusiasm and desire to contribute to Australian culture through fashion.
• On an individual scale having a Canberran Background forces you to actively seek employment and opportunities as our location lacks fashion industry and contacts. We are forced to be proactive and prepare ourselves for a tough industry.
• Creating individual realistic boundaries and push innovation within those boundaries to reach Australian fashion industry

WEAKNESSES

• Small fish in a really big pond
• Young industry with a lack of production and quality craftsmanship.
• Limited jobs based tightly on networking. Its all about who you know and what contacts you have.
• Living costs and high labor means financially straining to start and the maintain a business.
• Personal finance
• Limited production houses so you are more likely to outsource offshore or you have double the work trying to do it all yourself.

OPPORTUNITIES

• Growing understanding off all areas of production due to the lack of production in Australia
• New ideas and innovation within a unique market (Australian market)
• Catering for our own market instead of following overseas trends, therefore attending closely to the needs of Australians
• Drawing inspiration from our culture and landscape.
• Freedom of choice and expression.
• Consumer supporting and wanting Australian made products.

THREATS

• Lack of on shore production and no likely outcome for the future.
• A failing global economy.
• Ratio of trained designers to jobs available in Australia
• Australia lacks in post graduate courses or specialty courses therefore young designers are moving on to other jobs.
• High cost for onshore production
• Graduates from design schools that have connections to industry.