The Social Outfit, a store featuring the designs of refugees, has created dozens of jobs for newly-arrived asylum seekers.
On the suface, The Social Outfit in the inner-Sydney suburb of Newtown, looks like any other clothing store.
But behind the beads and bracelets lies a different story.
Seamstress Esther Han is from the Karen ethnic group, and fled Myanmar seeking a safer, happier life.
"We came as refugees. Australia is a good place to live and there are wonderful places here. And they people help."
Despite being a skilled designer and seamstress, the mother of seven struggled to find work when she first arrived.
That was until Ms Han joined The Social Outfit, a clothing manufacturer and store that hires recently-arrived asylum seekers and refugees.
"I like the environment working here. Helping one another and we have a good team."
The small business provides training in sewing and design to its staff, and many employees go on to set up their own micro-businesses.
Founder Jackie Ruddock says she wanted to give new migrants and refugees the chance to share their skills, while developing business experience.
"Often new migrants, as soon as they arrive, they want to contribute. They want to give back, be a part of the community and really show their skills. I think what we do is take those existing skills of sewing and making and creativity and says that we can come together. And as a part of that we can celebrate both the ability to make clothes and to interact with the wider community."
Ms Ruddock says many refugees and migrants initially struggle to have their abilities recognised in the Australian job market.
"I think social enterprise is a really important step in the part of that process. We're a supportive environment and one that understands that people need to build their skills over time. But at the same time we're very much like any other small business. We have a product to sell and something that we're really proud of."
Economist Tim Harcourt says many small businesses fail to harness the abilities and skills of newly arrived Australians.
"I think there is a great opportunity for social entrepreneurs and I think most of these refugees will set up their own businesses in the future and employ people, so there are first-order and second-order economic effects from these types of enterprises."
For Esther, working at the Social Outfit has helped with more than just her work skills.
"I built my confidence meeting with new people here."
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