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| Vintage shirts at Phillips Shirts Melbourne |
One of the many things I love about Brunswick is the
heritage of the Clothing and Textile industry. Like many other people, I grieve
the loss of this sector. It is great that there are some local revivals of this
tradition, such as the Olive Grove Studios and Otto and Spike. But as far as
I know, there is little public documentation or celebration of the history of
the garment manufacture industry in Brunswick.
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| Factory floor at Phillips Shirts |
Today I had a fantastic time at Open House Melbourne. The
highlight was a visit to the Phillips Shirts factory in Little Lonsdale Street,
just off Elizabeth Street. All of us in the tour were thrilled to see this
place, which was both historical and hip! Our tour leader, Emma, is passionate
about this place and has catapulted it into the twenty first century social
media world. Hopefully that will help it remain viable and ensure its
continuation, although the gigantic, ugly apartment block looming next door to
the beautiful little factory is a frightening portent of things that might
come. I'm sure all of us who went through today want to see this little one hundred year old place preserved (the building dates from the early twentieth century, designed by John Zevenboom) and the atmosphere of
fifties enterprise kept alive.
Perhaps there are some clothing companies in Brunswick
that can prolong their lives by appealing to those who would rather spend
more money buying locally made garments than those made in exploitative conditions
overseas. I have a grand idea for a Museum of Manufacture on Brunswick Road in
the former Countrymans Clothing building opposite the Brunswick South Primary
School. It could showcase the history of the textile industry in Brunswick and
it could house boutique clothing industries or startup ventures. I am not sure
who owns this building or whether it is earmarked for “development” but
something needs to be done!
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| Old Clothing Factory on Brunswick Road |
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