A Shrinking Trade

Here we learn about the once common skill that will soon be a rare trade in Australia - garment manufacturing.

Michael Mayjor's - owner and operator of Textstyles, which specialises in schoolwear, corporate, promotions, sportswear, printing, embroidery - grandfather established the business soon after the Depression. He arrived in Australia selling wool fabrics to haberdashery shops, and Michael's grandmother would hem samples for him. When people noticed her handwork they asked if she could hem for them, and she then was asked to manufacture clothes and started making fashion wear.

Michael's father joined the company and had studied pattern-making and design in London in the 40s & 50s. His uncle also joined as a machine-mechanic.

The company has now moved into pattern-making for the tourism and school uniform as a result of the Chinese garment making take-over.

Michael has had to be creative in adapting the business as the trade has changed.