Kinaway

Kinaway Chamber of Commerce Ltd. K’Tahni Pridham-Mulholland (03) 9416 2304 ktahnipm@kinaustralia.com 19/03/2021 MEDIA RELEASE BLAK DESIGN: THE ORIGINAL FASHION AND TEXTILE TREND-SETTERS Kinaway’s exciting plans for supercharging Indigenous fashion. MELBOURNE, VIC – Kinaway Chamber of Commerce announces the release of a Feasibility Study; A Victorian Aboriginal Manufacturing Hub Focusing on Fashion and Textiles by Jeremy Cussen. The study will help guide the commercial development of the First Peoples fashion and textiles businesses in Victoria. In recent years we have seen the rise of independent Aboriginal designers, apparel-retailers, models, photographers and fashion creatives. From clothing to jewelry, ready-to-wear apparel to high fashion. Aboriginal creatives are establishing themselves as entrepreneurs and innovators within the fashion and textiles industry; proving that they have tapped into a beautiful harmony between culture and couture. Whilst we are seeing a growing interest in fostering First Peoples creativity and inclusion in the fashion sector, the study outlined…

In recent months we have seen a decline in the activity in the Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business community, due to COVID and a slower economy, many of our businesses have been severely impacted. During the chaos some of our businesses have displayed awe inspiring resilience, wither that is delivering food to quarantined mob or holding virtual happy hours. Our wider Indigenous community have endured some hardships over the decades and this pandemic brought out some of the best characteristics in us, and maybe some of the things we need to work on.  Not all was doom and gloom, members also found themselves with sales growth that far exceeded their existing capacity and capability, and from that they were able to forge new relationships birthed out of a very trying time. These businesses then were scrambling for talent, Indigenous talent to fill the newly created positions.     …

18 May 2020 Victoria’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander business sector is in severe decline from the impact of COVID-19 according to the preliminary findings of a survey by the sector’s peak body. Kinaway Chamber of Commerce said it began comprehensively surveying its 150 members early this year, initially in response to Victoria’s bushfire crisis, and then during the ongoing pandemic. Kinaway Chair, Karen Milward, said the survey had revealed a sector in serious trouble with more than 22% of businesses immediately ceasing operations in March 2020. “We expect that figure to have increased significantly by now with the survey predicting that by the end of May 58% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses in Victoria would be closed,” said Ms Milward. “Nearly every business surveyed said they would not remain operating beyond three months of the March lock downs.” “This is a catastrophe that eclipses even the…