OUR OBJECTIVE

The Social Outfit is a registered charity and social enterprise whose purpose is to employ and train people from refugee and new migrant communities. We celebrate creativity and our diverse community, and believe fashion and creativity can lead to learning and empowerment.

We provide training and employment in clothing production, retail, design and marketing. By working from the traditional and cultural strengths of our diverse community, we aim to build-up lasting skills. 

 

We are 100% ethically accredited by the ACNC, Ethical Clothing Australia and the Good On You app. The Social Outfit is accredited and licensed to display the Ethical Clothing Australia trademark on its Australian-made garments.

 

 

Photo by Kimberly Low for Broadsheet.

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE MODEL

We run a clothing retail store, onsite manufacturing and sewing school from 353 King Street, Newtown, founded in June 2014. Our operational model is based on the award-winning and successful social enterprise, The Social Studio, launched in Melbourne in December 2009. The Social Studio supported our start-up, and the two organisations operate in a supportive partnership while maintaining separate legal entities and governance processes.

Our presence in one of Sydney's most thriving urban centres has been met with enthusiasm from the local and wider community. In 2015 we began our Vocational Education Training in Certificate III Clothing Production, in partnership with the Sydney Institute TAFE NSW. 

 We also work in partnership with the following specialist organisations:

• Asylum Seekers Centre
• Fairfield High School Intensive English Centre
• House of Welcome
• NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS)
• Red Cross Migration Support Programs
• Settlement Services International

 

OUR CLOTHES

Our garments are produced mainly from digitally-printed silk and excess fabric donated from our fashion industry supporters. Our printed silk is produced by our sister organisation, The Social Studio, in Melbourne. This fabric showcases exclusive textile designs by Australian fashion designers and emerging talent from our community. Excess fabrics donated from the fashion industry are also used to create our clothing and accessories, saving quality textiles from landfill and allowing us to repurpose remnants and 'end of rolls' in our designs. This often means our customers can purchase limited edition, or one-off garments in store.

Features of our product range are:

• Superior quality
• Ethically made in Newtown
• Part of a small run or a one-off garment
• Exclusive print designs
• Digitally printed silk produced in Melbourne by The Social Studio
• Re-purposing of excess fabrics donated by Australian fashion industry
• Providing people with a living wage