Ethical Clothing Australia Week 2026
Celebrating the skilled workers shaping our local and ethical textile, clothing and footwear industry.
Ethical Clothing Australia Week 2026 ran from 10 to 20 September, bringing together workers, accredited businesses, unions and industry advocates across the country.
When we say “all clothing is handmade,” we do not mean every product is stitched entirely by hand. We mean that every textile, clothing and footwear product still depends on human skill, human labour and human decision making at every stage of production.
Behind every finished item is a person, and often many people.
Someone designs it. Someone develops the pattern. Someone cuts the fabric. Someone sews or assembles it. Someone adds trims or prints. Someone checks the quality. Someone prepares it for dispatch.
All clothing is handmade. The question is, by who and in what conditions.
Our events
Voices Behind The Seams
Ethical Clothing Australia Week 2026 launched with a live storytelling event centring the workers and outworkers whose skill, care and experience underpin Australia’s textile, clothing and footwear industry. Through live storytelling and guided conversation, workers shared their personal journeys, the pride they take in their craft and the realities of working behind the seams
Made by Queensland
A panel discussion exploring how ethical and responsible procurement can strengthen local manufacturing. Hosted by Ethical Clothing Australia’s Angela Bell, the panel brought together Fiona David from Fair Futures, Mellissa Pashen from Ethical Clothing Australia-accredited Game Clothing, Jenny Kruschel from the Timber, Furnishing & Textiles Union, and Laura Giassetti from the Australian Catholic Anti-Slavery Network.
Co-hosted events
Webinar Series
Across the week, we co-hosted five online webinar with accredited businesses, training providers and the TFTU, covering everything from the purpose-led fashion and makers outside the capital cities, to procuring ethically and building a career in the industry. Each session included an audience Q&A.
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A practical styling session
Featuring Bamboo Body, By Audrey and Grace and megsmithmakes, this session explored how to build a wardrobe from locally made, ethically accredited clothing. Attendees took away practical approaches to colour, fabric, construction quality and capsule wardrobes, plus a clearer understanding of the skilled workers behind the garments and how thoughtful purchasing supports local makers and quality craft.
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A panel discussion on the benefits of ethical procurement
Featuring accredited businesses Assembled Threads, ABMT Apparel and Shiny Embroidery, this session followed the journey from brief to finished garment, looking at how people are involved at each stage and how to avoid risk within supply chains. The panel offered procurement professionals, sustainability officers and uniform buyers practical guidance on switching to an accredited supplier, including minimum order quantities, lead times and costings.
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A panel discussion on social enterprise and purpose-led fashion
Two Ethical Clothing Australia accredited social enterprises, The Social Outfit and The Social Studio, shared how they use fashion and local manufacturing to create meaningful employment and social impact. The conversation covered how their business models work, the communities they support, and how accreditation provides an independent framework for demonstrating ethical production and responsible workplace practices.
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A conversation on ethical fashion beyond the capitals
Featuring Spiritus Eco Clothing, Melaleuca Rise and Pearl Button Bridal, this session explored how regional landscapes and communities inform the design, materials, production and identity of ethical fashion businesses. Speakers discussed how connection to place shapes creative direction, local relationships, slower production rhythms and the value placed on skilled craft.
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Featuring Hip Pocket Workwear and Safety, Kangan Institute, TextileWorks and the TCF Union, this session set out real entry points, training pathways, wages and conditions across the industry, with workers and industry representatives sharing their own experiences. It was designed for VET and TAFE students, career changers, and people from migrant or refugee backgrounds exploring pathways into the industry.
Accredited Business Events
Wilderness Wear Factory Tour
Guided tours of the Wilderness Wear manufacturing facility gave visitors a rare look at how Australia’s premium MerinoFusion garments are designed, knitted and manufactured. Across every stage of production — from innovative yarn technology and advanced knitting machinery through to finishing and quality control — attendees saw how Australian Merino wool is combined with technical fibres to create world-class outdoor apparel, and gained a deeper understanding of the skill and care behind local manufacturing.
Tea Towel Studio Session with Next State
Accredited digital textile printer Next State ran two sold-out 90-minute workshops taking participants from file to fabric. Attendees submitted a design in advance, toured the print studio, watched their file printed using three different techniques, and learned how digital textile printing and custom on-demand manufacturing work. Each finished design was sewn into a tea towel and posted out about a week later, alongside two additional printed samples.
Inside KNOVUS: See Ethical Manufacturing in Action
A guided studio tour of accredited knitwear manufacturer KNOVUS showed Shima Seiki WHOLEGARMENT technology in operation, with garments knitted seamlessly in one piece straight off the machine, with no cutting or sewing required. Attendees heard directly from KNOVUS’ Patricia Chircop about what ethical manufacturing looks like in practice, from yarn selection through to the finished piece, and received in-store and KNOLab course discounts.
Dressing with Intention: Consciously Connecting with Your Clothes
Accredited business Empowered Clothing hosted a webinar with wellbeing expert Sally Estlin, exploring “enclothed cognition,” the idea that what we wear genuinely shapes how we think, feel and show up in the world. The session covered natural fibres versus synthetics, how colour can support your energy centres, and why knowing the story behind your clothes, including who made them and under what conditions, is part of dressing with true intention.
Thank you
Thank you to every worker, outworker, accredited business, speaker, union representative, training provider, partner, venue and attendee who made Ethical Clothing Australia Week 2026 possible.
Support local
Ethical Clothing Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout the lands now known as Australia and recognise and celebrate their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples today.We are a place free from discrimination, where diversity is celebrated and everyone belongs. We are committed to creating a safe and welcoming space for all.