Helping small businesses survive by buying Australian

With concerns over a pandemic-driven economic contraction, buying Australian-made goods online is one way to help small and family businesses survive. It’s also the aim of a new clothing range based on an all-Australian supply chain.

Phillip and Vicky Skorsis Source: SBS

Vicky Skorsis runs a garment factory in Melbourne with her son Phillip, making clothes for some of the city’s top labels. The 70-year-old has seen a lot of changes over a long career in the Australian rag trade - but nothing like the devastation caused when coronavirus hit in 2020, leaving them with losses after a substantial order was cancelled. The family survived the pandemic by pivoting to making protective clothing. The real success came with moving to Australian made clothes from start to finish, making competition against cheap imports a success.