The Council of Textile and Fashion Industries of Australia Limited or the TFIA as it is more commonly known is the peak representative body for the Australian textiles, clothing and fashion industries.
A not-for-profit member driven organisation our areas of activitiy are broad yet focused on always ensuring that Australian decision-makers and major political parties are conscious of the demands and issues facing the domestic TCF industry.
Representing the interests of Australia’s textile, clothing and fashion industries to Australian and international governments and the wider community the TFIA welcomes active participation from all domestic suppliers into the development of State and Federal Government policy setting. This encompasses industry policy, envioronemental policy, trade policy and training and education policy and implementation.
The TFIA’s mission is
To provide leadership and membership services to assist excellence and innovation in local and international textile, clothing and fashion markets.
TFIA membership is open to all companies engaged in the manufacture or design of textile, clothing and footwear products in Australia. The Council has three divisions - Clothing, Textile and the Australian Fashion Council. You can find membership information for the Council here.
TFIA members comprise private and public companies ranging in size from micro businesses to multi-national companies and several specialised industry associations.
The TFIA currently covers the following issues:
As a sector specific association, the TFIA represents only companies engaged in TCF activities in Australia. Your voice is not diminished by the calls of other non-TCF manufacturing sectors or service sectors and the management strucuture provides ample opportunity for all members to have a say in TFIA policy discussion and development.
Working closely with its members on these issues the TFIA ensures that the industry’s voice is heard by decision-makers at the State, Federal and International level.
In addition to the policy activities above the TFIA has a wholly owned subsidiary – TFIA Business Services which has two business arms – Training and Market Research and Statistics. The income from these operations is re-invested by the TFIA into the industry and are run at arms length to the Council itself.
The TFIA is a Board member of Manufacturing Skills Australia, a nominating body for Standards Australia, a member of the Homeworkers Code of Practice and member of the International Textile Manufacturers Federaltion (ITMF) and International Apparel Federation (IAF). In addition TFIA staff and members are reguarlely invited to sit on committees and working groups.
The Council of Textile and Fashion Industries of Australia (TFIA) began in the late 1940's when the Textile Council of Australia was formed as an umbrella organisation to provide a focal point for a number of sector-specific associations.
Following the release of an Industries Assistance Commission(IAC) Draft Report in 1984, vast changes to the assistance schemes for TCF industries were proposed. A formal merger with the Australian Confederation of Apparel Manufacturers and the Australian Knitting Industries Council resulted in the Textile Council of Australia changing its name to the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Council of Australia.
Other industry bodies which became closely allied through organisational membership of the new Council included Footwear Manufacturers Association of Australia, Carpet Institute of Australia, Australian Wool Industries Secretariat and the now defunct Fashion Industries of Australia, Australian Leather and Suede Clothing Association and the Australian Polyoelefin Textiles Association.
The partnership with individual sectors ensures that the Council truly represents the whole TCF industry and presents effective and influential representation to Government on TCF issues. Throughout its history the TFIA's integrity and representative voice has been well acknowledged by both government and industry, establishing a strong working relationship with Government, which continues today.
In 1995 the Council, in recognition of the fast growing fashion industry, and the merging of the Fabric Industries of Australia under the Council corporate umbrella, changed its name to the present Council of Textile and Fashion Industries of Australia.
Whilst the Counci's key function is in representing critical issues to Government, important and growing activities include Export Development, Market Research and Access, Customs and Trade, Training, Business Planning and Development and Marketing.
The TFIA has worked closely with the Australian and New Zealand governments in developing ANZCER and together with its counterpart association in NZ has formed ANZTEX to monitor various aspects of Trans-Tasman trade and the implications for both countries of international trade arrangements.
The TFIA has worked closely with the Australian and New Zealand governments in developing ANZCERTA and with Fiji to develop the SPARTECA and SPARTECA-TCF Arrangements.