Two Australian fashion industry bodies plan merger

Australia’s two premier industry bodies, the Australian Fashion Chamber (AFC) and the Council for Textile and Fashion (CTF), have planned to merge, the two entities announced recently at a fashion forum. The rationale behind the merger is to operate a stronger and more influential body focussed on helping all segments of the industry ecosystem grow.

The new organisation will have offices and staff in Melbourne and Sydney, as well as a network around the country, according to a press release by AFC, which was launched in 2014.

The membership of both organisations is drawn from across the fashion and textile industry value chain and includes emerging and established designers, fashion retailers, manufacturers, education, state and national industry associations and students.

The proposal to merge will go to each organisation’s annual general meetings at the end of the year where members will vote on the future of their industry.