Who We Are
The Social Outfit provides employment and training in clothing production, retail, design and marketing to people from refugee and new migrant communities.
Our creative work is delivered through our retail store, onsite manufacturing and sewing school at 353 King Street, Newtown, Sydney.
On 26 June 2015 The Social Outfit will celebrate one year of retail operations and community space. We have learnt a lot about how to nurture meaningful participation from refugee communities and what it takes to run a fashion retail store.
After a year of proving our social enterprise model, The Social Outfit is ready to grow. We have seen for ourselves the impact of employment and skill development, and are hungry to do more. This campaign will allow us to involve the community in the creative
process and therefore generate more employment for refugees and new migrants.
The Project: Digital Design Training
People involved with us this year have told us how much they love our creative and strengths-based programs. Digital design training will allow community members to develop new skills and knowledge. In addition to being personally rewarding,
the design process encourages creative expression, story telling and the exploration of cultural backgrounds.
By teaching participants how to create a digital print design, we can invite community members to contribute a design to be featured by The Social Outfit. This is a positive and fun way to celebrate the skills and talents of the diverse cultures in Australia
and create belonging through fashion and design.
8 Good Reasons For You To Support Our Campaign
1. We’re celebrating creativity.
Fostering creative expression is a positive and fun way to learn from and nurture the skills and talents of our incredibly diverse community. By working from traditional and cultural strengths people build up lasting skills.
2. We can do more.
Facilitating community print designs will allow us to grow our impact, encouraging participation from different community groups. This program is focused on developing design skills and cross-cultural communication.
3. Let’s change the conversation.
Refugee and new migrant issues are frequently featured in the media in divisive terms. Our inclusive philosophy focuses on the benefits of a multicultural Australia.
4. Shop local.
Located in Sydney, all our garments are made on site in Newtown.
(Side note: You're welcome to visit us during the week to see where our garments are made and the care that is taken with each piece.)
5. Create employment.
Creating community prints will fund garment production and subsequently more employment.
6. We’ll reward you!
We’ve got two incredible limited edition print designs to thank supporters for investing in our future. We want you to wear The Social Outfit with pride!
7. Endorse ethical fashion.
Employment. All our technicians and retail staff are paid in line with relevant award wages and we offer secure employment contracts.
Fabric. We use digitally-printed silk, produced by our sister organisation in Melbourne, The Social Studio. Our clothing is also made from excess fabric donated from the fashion industry. This saves quality fabric from landfill, and allows us to use
remnants and 'end of rolls' in our work.
8. Good to wear. Made for good.
Do good, feel good, look good.
Find More Good
We're sharing our journey on
facebook.com/thesocialoutfit
Tag and follow us on Instagram
@thesocialoutfit
Keep in touch via Twitter
@thesocialoutfit
Show your support #makingmoreforgood
