Lisa Nouh started her underwear business, Tuffys and Tuffetts, two years ago after Pacific Brands moved its Bonds manufacturing unit offshore resulting in the loss of nearly two thousand jobs.
Using some old Bonds manufacturing equipment and eight former Bonds employees she started her business.
"We saw that as an opportunity, rather than a challenge and we wanted to make a truely Australian made product under safe and ethical working conditions," she said.
Her mother, Mary, was one of the first employees and says she is very proud of her daughters new business.
The government is assisting some small businesses through various grants which Lisa has taken up.
"Don't give up on what you want to achieve," Ms Nouh says.
"If its your dream, make sure you go for it, surround yourself with people that have the same vision, and make it happen."
The business is breaking even and growing. Orders continue to roll and Ms Nouh is planning on expanding the product line.
Costs have been kept down by producing everything inhouse from patterns, to the garments and even website design.
That's earned her goods the government registered and certified Australian Made logo.
Ian Harrison is the CEO of Australian Made and says products are tested to ensure they meet the criteria.
"It needs to be actually made and produced here in Australia," he says.
"Secondly, and both tests need to have to be met, more than half of the costs of producing it needs to have happened in Australia"
A Roy Morgan poll showed nearly 99 per cent of Australian consumers recongise the green and gold brand with the number of companies using it doubling to 1900 over the last seven years.
Around 20, 000 products display the triangular logo and whlie some items carry a price premium, much of which is driven by wage costs, local businesses say consumers are getting a quality product.
"Our standards in this country are very high, we take for granted we do things very well in this country," Mr Harrison said.
"Secondly, they're ploughing some funds back into the economy 43 jobs, career opportunities for better Australians."
But some jobs are continuing to be lost. Car manufacturer Toyota is the latest to shut down local production.
Mr Harrison attributes that to the wide market in Australia.
"If you want to buy a car here, you've got 64 options, different brands to go and buy, in America, a market 15 times our size, you've got 46 brands to chose from, we've opened our market up, i think , a little too much 10."
