The Social Outfit
Providing education, training and employment opportunities in the fashion industry to new migrant and refugee communities.
The Social Outfit believe that tapping into the rich creativity of Australia's migrant communities through clothing production, design and marketing can lead to empowerment and social inclusion.
2014 Pitch
Funds raised: $41,420
The Social Outfit pitched at TFN Sydney on 12 March 2014 seeking funding for the employment of retail staff from the refugee and new migrant community in Australia. They raised $41,420 (including $20,700 in matched funding from the Macquarie Group Foundation) followed by post-event donations of $1000.
The impact...
What do you get when you stitch together the rag trade with social change?
Twelve months following Jackie’s lively and inspiring pitch to fund first year staffing costs, The Social Outfit made the successful transition from emerging venture to fully operational trading social enterprise. In June 2014, they opened the doors of its clothing retail store in Newtown, alongside their manufacturing operation and sewing school.
Those funds have given three retail staff from the refugee/ new migrant community their first paid roles in Australia - securing part time employment for one year at Australian Award rates (including superannuation) and recruitment underway to hire a fourth retail staff member.
Galvanized by the TFN experience, TSO continues to apply its pitch training and materials in its conversations with other prospective supporters and raised $30,000 since, from other funding sources.
TSO will enter Social Traders ‘Crunch Program’ supported by a scholarship from the Westpac Foundation with plans for further investment and expansion.
Read their Impact Report
Learn more about The Social Outfit.
Supporting Sustainable Development Goals:
