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Each garment is crafted in our Sydney studio by women from refugee and migrant backgrounds, providing skills, jobs and confidence.
Our History
Founded in 2014
The Social Outfit was founded in 2014 by Jackie Ruddock at 353 King Street, Newtown, Sydney, to address the barriers to employment and social inclusion faced by refugees and new migrants. Inspired by the social enterprise model of Melbourne's The Social Studio, we built a strengths-based 'earn and learn' model using textile skills as a gateway into the Australian workforce.
The organisation began with Jackie as founding CEO, one sewing employee, one part-time staff member, and a handful of volunteers and early supporters, working out of a modest shopfront at 353 King Street, Newtown.
From that single sewer, we've grown into a creative collective and fashion brand in our own right. Generous pro-bono designers and artists have shaped our sewing and print programs from the very beginning, while more than 40 Australian fashion brands, including Bianca Spender and Romance Was Born, have donated deadstock fabric and textile print designs along the way.
Our most coveted prints are designed through our Community Print Projects. Original artworks by refugee and migrant women from across our wider community have become a signature textile design, amplifying their stories through fashion design.
Every milestone tells a story of progress. Since we opened, these are the moments that have shaped our work and the impact we create together.
Opened our first store, manufacturing studio and sewing school at 353 King Street, Newtown.
Moved our store and workroom to 188 King Street, Newtown.
Pivoted to manufacturing face masks during COVID-19, selling more than 10,000 masks on a "Buy 1, Give 1" model to keep our team employed through lockdown.
Moved manufacturing and sewing classes to a larger workroom in Marrickville to scale production.
Became a trusted contract manufacturer producing scarves for Westpac's branch uniforms in partnership with national supplier Workwear Group.
Won the Gold National Banksia Sustainability Award, plus the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award.
Made a custom suit for Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia's swearing in ceremony.
+125 jobs created
since
we were founded
2m+ wages paid to
learn on the job
1,350+ trained
in sewing or retail
Donors have been instrumental in driving our impact over the years, and without it, The Social Outfit could not have made the difference to so many women's lives. Your financial contributions and support continue to change lives.
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