Forget fast fashion. Australia’s fashion future is getting a full-blown high-tech glow-up. In a move set to reshape the local style scene, the Australian Fashion Council (AFC) has teamed up with Epson Australia to lay the digital groundwork for something seriously sleek: a smart factory powered by AI and cutting-edge technology. Think fashion-forward meets futuristic, with a dash of sustainability.
So what’s the deal with a smart factory? Picture this: a digitally-driven wonderland where garments are custom-made, on-demand, and practically waste-free. Instead of mass-producing racks of clothes, the factory of the future prints, cuts, and stitches only what customers actually want. It’s like couture with a conscience. And it does it fast.
This isn’t just a sci-fi fantasy cooked up in a boardroom. The AFC and Epson are on the hunt for a research partner to conduct a six-month deep dive into whether this tech-powered textile dream can actually become a reality. The result? A detailed, no-nonsense blueprint for a pilot smart factory that could kick off by the end of 2025.
Why now? Well, the Aussie fashion and tech industry is at a major turning point. We’ve had a few too many run-ins with global supply chain chaos, and don’t even get us started on the skills shortage. But with the AFC’s newly minted plan to build Australia’s first-ever National Manufacturing Strategy for fashion and textiles, the timing couldn’t be more on-trend.
According to AFC CEO Jaana Quaintance-James, this initiative is more than just another tech experiment. It’s a way to fix some of the fashion industry’s messiest problems. While also boosting jobs, strengthening local production, and keeping things stylishly sustainable. And, in other exciting news, for every $1 million invested in bringing manufacturing back onshore, the return could be around $1.2 million in economic benefits. That’s a lot of zeroes for a zero-waste wardrobe.
For Craig Heckenberg, Managing Director of Epson Australia, the success of fashion and tech is all about access. “Epson is committed to supporting innovation in Australian manufacturing. We believe Epson’s digital textile printing technology can help build a more sustainable world and improve lives,” he says.
“Our partnership with the AFC and this blueprint and initiative will help local brands, big and small, have access to smart manufacturing capabilities that match their scale and ambition. For smaller brands, it means producing high quality garments locally, on demand. For larger companies it offers a blueprint to implement smart factory practices within their operations. As a result, we see a future where Australian made sustainable fashion will set the global standard. Leading not just in design, but also in ethical, high-tech manufacturing.”
But before anyone starts sewing microchips into trench coats, the AFC and Epson are doing their homework. The feasibility study will dig deep into the tech, economics, sustainability factors and – most importantly – how this all translates into real-life results. This isn’t a drill, it’s a dress rehearsal for fashion’s future.
The vision is a chic and sustainable ecosystem where digital innovation, educational partnerships, and ethical production walk hand-in-hand down the runway. It’s about rebuilding Australia’s manufacturing muscle, empowering a new generation of tech-savvy creatives. And, proving that style and smarts make the perfect pair.
So next time you zip up your locally made linen set or rock a custom jacket straight off the digital press, you might just have a smart factory to thank. Fashion, meet the fourth industrial revolution – it’s time to serve style with a side of AI.