The NSW textile, clothing, footwear and leather (TCFL) manufacturing industry generates sales and services income of more than A$3 billion each year, more than 30% of the Australian total. It comprises about 2,000 enterprises, with particular strengths in fashion and clothing apparel, and technical textiles.
The Australian TCFL manufacturing industry covers a diverse range of fibre-based activities, including:
- early stage processing of natural fibres such as wool, and leather
- textile production
- transformation of leather, yarns and textiles into clothing, footwear, carpets and other fabric products for the home and office
- technical textiles such as shade cloth, medical and sanitary products, filtration products and insulation materials.
The Australian TCFL industry generated sales and services income of A$9.3 billion in 2004-05 and industry value added of A$2.8 billion. This represents about 3% of the total manufacturing sector’s contribution to Australia’s Gross Domestic Product.
In recent years, Australian TCFL manufacturing production has increased its emphasis on high value, capital intensive and niche products, and less on labour intensive, standardised products. This focus has led to an increase in non-manufacturing employment in the broader industry particularly in the design, marketing, wholesale and logistics areas.
The TCFL industry contributed about A$1.9 billion to Australia’s total exports in 2004-05, with strong increases occurring in the export of intermediate and finished TCFL products over the past decade.
While NSW TCFL production is mostly based in Sydney, the industry is also significant in a number of regional areas, particularly the Murray and Central Coast regions.
NSW's competitive advantages for the TCFL industry include:
- access to quality raw materials – 40% of Australia's fine wool and almost all of its cotton is sourced and processed in NSW
- a high level of technical innovation, in computer-aided design and manufacturing, marking and grading systems, and quick response production systems
- a strong base of creative talent in fashion and lifestyle product design
- Sydney – a mature, cosmopolitan and significant market for textile, clothing and footwear products, including furnishings, fashion and industrial fabrics.
The NSW Department of State and Regional Development works closely with industry associations in the TCFL industry to support its development and growth: