"I was a garment worker. I know how the system works." - Beth Macpherson on Empowering Fashion Workers through Ethical Clothing Australia

"Oh, but we buy Australian-made. Exploitation is something that happens elsewhere!" Time to bust that myth, says this week's guest, Australian union organiser - and former garment worker - Beth Macpherson. In this warm and enlightening conversation we discuss: the evolution and changing shape of Australia's domestic manufacturing in the textiles, clothing and footwear sector; what's gone and what's left; Beth's own experience working in factories during boom time in the 1970s and '80s, before production moved off shore; the current state of textiles and sewing skills, and how and why our governments should take them seriously into the future; the increasing use of outworkers today, and how they can be invisible. Many outworkers here are migrant women who come from non-English speaking backgrounds and often do not understand their rights as Australian workers. We hope you enjoy the latest from our series on workers' rights, produced with Clean Clothes Campaign. Don't forget to listen to the previous episodes you may have missed. Find links and further reading at thewardrobecrisis.com Support the show on Substack - wardrobecrisis.substack.com Tell us what you think. Find Clare on Instagram @mrspress Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.