Making inclusive employment fashionable

Launching on the scene in 2014, The Social Outfit started with a bold vision to kick-start the careers of refugee and new migrant women through beautiful and ethical fashion.

A decade later, with long-term support from Westpac Foundation, the not-for-profit, charity and social enterprise has triumphed to carve a name for itself in an extremely competitive industry while delivering on its social purpose, and then some.

Located in Sydney’s inner-west, The Social Outfit has a workroom and storefront that both exude warmth and passion. Here over 1,100 refugee and new migrant women have participated in specialist sewing and retail training programs, with more than 100 gaining employment and receiving over $1.9 million in wages.

For many of these women, their forced relocation and often protracted resettlement journeys from countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Palestine and Ukraine have disrupted their education or work. Stepping into a supportive professional environment in Australia is a vital opportunity to kickstart their careers.

For 82 percent of employees, The Social Outfit is their first job in Australia, providing a sense of purpose, a meaningful way to contribute to the community and a pivotal step forward in breaking the cycle of disadvantage.

But it's not just the employees and trainees who benefit. The Social Outfit works with larger fashion houses to ensure no fabric goes to waste. Their ethical model means less wastage in an industry that’s largely fixated on driving over consumption.

While the impact of The Social Outfit goes beyond measure, the challenge of achieving commercial growth and exposure remains. With slow fashion being an expensive operation, philanthropic organisations like Westpac Foundation play an important role in providing holistic support.

Investing in more than 10,000 jobs since 2015, Westpac Foundation is focused on supporting people who face complex barriers to employment. Through its grant programs, it seeks to create better futures for all Australians.

To date, it has awarded $400,000 in funding to The Social Outfit, however its capacity building programs have proven equally valuable. With the support of internal brand champions, Westpac Foundation was able to leverage relationships within Westpac to help The Social Outfit secure its largest business-to-business third party manufacturing contract. This resulted in The Social Outfit manufacturing elements of the retail banking staff uniform, nationally.

Following the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer, Amy Low, earlier this year, The Social Outfit is set to continue its promising trajectory as a leading fashion brand with a deep commitment to social impact.

As a longstanding board member, Amy is eager to bring her experience in brand development, retail growth and product strategy to The Social Outfit.

“I have seen the profound impact The Social Outfit has on its community, particularly its employees and trainees. I have a deep understanding of the programs it delivers and am inspired by the spirit of its work,” said Amy.

With momentum continuing to build for The Social Outfit, it signals an optimistic future for new Australians and the country at large as social enterprises continue creating a more equitable future for everyone.

 

 

Find out more about The Social Outfit and how your ethical fashion choices could help refugee and migrant women. While you’re at it, learn more about Westpac Foundation and its commitment to breaking the cycle of disadvantage by supporting social enterprises. #DoingGoodIsInOurDNA