With the launch of Capsule Two, we thought it’s a fitting time to shed some light on the process of clothing manufacturing Australia, or more specifically, manufacturing in Melbourne.

Once upon a time there was an abundance of local mills, fabric suppliers, makers & dye houses in and around Melbourne that local brands could easily manufacture through. In many instances, these local businesses were established by immigrants, who introduced practices & process learned within their respective homelands. The turn of the century saw this shift, with many local brands shifting their manufacturing processes off-shore at the lure of cheaper costs & higher margins. As a result, this shift saw many family owned & operated businesses go out of business in the years that followed. Sadly, this was an anecdote discussed with nearly every business we encountered on the 2 and a half year journey in establishing Lalor. For those that still exist, they continue to manufacture because they are masters of their respective craft and have sincere passion for what they do, as well as understanding several important by-products of their practices such as transparency, workers’ rights & an ethical and sustainable approach to manufacturing that contributes to Australian industry & the economy at large.

One thing we did learn on our 3 year journey from inception to now; local production is not easy. Instead of dealing with a single sourcing team as is usually the case when working with off-shore companies, to date we have worked with 13 different businesses to produce the product for our first two capsules & met with even more. This being said, we would not have it any other way. Getting to meet the business owners & their staff has been an enriching experience, and one that we feel adds to the value of our product. We’re proud to say that every piece of Lalor product has been locally created, and that we can say with confidence that everyone who worked on the product has been paid fairly & treated with respect. We know this because we met them.

There is a great, supportive network amongst local manufacturers, so take this as our way of paying it forward. If you are interested in local manufacturing but don’t know where to start, please get in touch with us. If nothing more, we hope that Lalor can serve as a beacon for local production. Premium product can be made in Australia, and whilst it might be more costly & labour intensive compared to off-shore production, the satisfaction of supporting local industry is well worth it.

In the same way that our Capsule One collaboration with Mimmo was intended to encourage the utilisation of Australian graphics & design, the intention behind Capsule Two is to encourage Australian manufacturing.

If you’ve ever wondered what’s involved with local development & manufacturing, whether it be for personal or professional interest, we’d love to share our knowledge & encourage you to reach out through the contact page or direct message on Instagram.