Creativity is critical to culture and humanity.
The effects of the coronavirus pandemic continue to grow day by day. Being in the hospitality or fashion industry, a small business owner, or a creative and freelancer during this time can be particularly challenging. While our health and healthcare systems are at huge risk, our economy now faces catastrophic blows too.
Now is the time more than ever to buy local and support local. Launching today, We Wear Australian is an initiative created to raise awareness for our peers in the Australian Fashion Industry who have suffered immensely due to the global coronavirus pandemic.
How the initiative works
Leading the charge on We Wear Australian is Richard Poulson, Co-Founder of Morrison and CEO of new eCommerce environment Showroom-X. Stating in a press release, “The Australian fashion industry has never experienced tougher times, but we are a creative and resilient industry, by uniting and putting a spotlight on the industry impact and response we are able to support each other and contribute to the rebuild of Australia.”
Due to the sudden closure of retail and the cancellation of wholesale orders, many designers have been left with excess stock and empty stores. The initiative is in place to run for three weeks for the sole purpose of driving sales to Australian designer’s e-commerce sites. Each designer will also be offering special discounts on new season merchandise.
Supporting Australian charities
The designers participating in We Wear Australian will also be making cash or clothing donations to support two Australian Charities. Dress for Success, a non-profit who assist women to gain work or return to the workforce and Thread Together, who source excess new clothing from fashion designers and retailers to redistribute them to Australians in need.
We wear Australian will run from Thursday 9th April to Thursday 30th April 2020. Some participating brands include Aje, Bassike, Camilla, Ellery, Esse Studios, Ginger & Smart, Kit-X, Manning Cartell, Matin, Matteau, Morrison, Nique, Nobody Denim, R.M.Williams, Sir The Label, Strateas Carlucci, Ten pieces, The Daily Edited, The Upside, Rebecca Vallance, Viktoria & Woods and many more.
What you can do
Creating awareness and supporting our local fashion industry right now is imperative, if we have the capacity to do so. Be sure to see our list of Australian fashion labels to support during this time along with New Zealand too. Or show love to the freelancers and creatives that have been deeply affected by the slowing economy. You can also offer help and support to our much loved hospitality industry, which is dealing with the closure of non-essential businesses and the impact of social distancing.
Let’s continue to stick together and support each other during this time to ensure we have a thriving creative industry on the other side when this is all over.
Stay safe, stay home.
