Australian Fashion Week has long been the industry's most important week of the year. This year, we used it to do something different, bring the supply chain into the room.

On the rooftop of the Museum of Contemporary Art, the AFC hosted Meet the Makers. a curated matchmaking event presented by Epson and MC'd by Glen Rollason, Founder of RB Patterns. 11 of Australia's leading manufacturers gathered under one roof, giving brands a rare opportunity to discover the capabilities, craftsmanship and capacity sitting right in their own backyard.

For too long, local manufacturing has felt out of reach for many Australian brands, not because the capability isn't there, but because the connections haven't been. Meet the Makers was built to change that. By creating a structured, face-to-face environment during the industry's most concentrated week of the year, we brought the right people into the same room at the right time.

None of this would have been possible without the eleven manufacturers who brought the event to life: EPSON, Citizen Wolf, ABMT, J&M Fashions, Knovus, Marlene Dawn, MTK Australia, RB Patterns, Silver Fleece, Tech Style Studio and Waverley Mills.

Each showcased what they do best and in doing so, opened the door to a new wave of Australian-made partnerships.

The calibre of brands in attendance reflected the broad appetite for local production across the industry. Joining the event were brands spanning from enterprise to SMB, including CUE, THE ICONIC, Alemais, BY JOHNNY, MARCS, Injury, Haluminous, LuluJaru, West 14th and more.  

The result was exactly what the event was designed to deliver. The room was alive with energy from the moment it opened, with brands eager to understand what Australian manufacturers are truly capable of. From fabric and pattern making to full garment production and digital printing, the range of expertise on display was a powerful reminder of the depth of skill that still exists.

A special thank you to our partner EPSON, whose support made Meet the Makers possible. Events like this are only possible with partners who are genuinely invested in the future of the Australian fashion industry, and Epson's commitment to local manufacturing is a reflection of exactly that.