In another blow to local woollen manufacturing, Silver Fleece, the company which has made the Australian cricket team's iconic cable knit vests and pullovers for more than 40 years has been placed in liquidation.
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Last week the Adelaide based company ceased trading and Daniel Lopresti and Simon Richard Miller from Clifton Hall were appointed to "urgently" find a buyer for the 73 year old company or its assets.
The business was founded in 1951 by Yugoslav immigrant and former World War II prisoner of war Tim Jovanovic who bought a sewing machine and began making woollen garments out of his shed.
Silver Fleece grew to supply customised uniforms to schools and colleges across Australia and tailor made knitwear for businesses, organisations and sporting clubs.
In 2003 one of its long-term employees Cathy Barton took over ownership of Silver Fleece.
Speaking to Stock Journal in 2021, Ms Barton said the road had been tough competing with Chinese made uniforms but noted that COVID period had seen a turnaround in fortunes with the business inundated with inquiries from consumers wanting to buy Australian made. This was not to last.
In a statement Mr Lopresti said it was disappointing to see a "well known and respected brand unable to continue in the marketplace."
He noted that despite the company's reputation for producing high quality garments, its closure was a reflection of the high costs associated with manufacturing locally.
Silver Fleece employed more than 20 staff, many long-time employees.
The ramifications are already being felt by the Michael family's Leahcim Wool: Farm to Yarn to You brand.
For the past three years the Mid North Merino breeders have been using Silver Fleece to transform increasing amounts of their woollen yarn into high quality garments such as beanies, rugby tops, jumpers, scarves and blankets.
But Andrew Michael says this growing business, selling their products online, at field days or at the family's Hummocks Station farm shop near Snowtown now faces an unknown future.
"We have built a great relationship with Silver Fleece, they love wool and have great staff who understand the product and what we are trying to do," he said.
"I don't know what other options we might have; it will be hard to find another Australian manufacturer, we are very parochial for maximising our products being made in SA."
He does not accept high labour costs have made Australian processing unachievable, especially with much of the process now automated, but a combination of many cost factors.
He says every effort should be made to keep Silver Fleece's specialised workforce in manufacturing, including government assistance such as subsidising the power.
"The government should be doing all it can to save this family run company which has produced the Australian cricket team's jumpers for years - will they also go overseas to be knitted?)," he said.
"It is a sad reflection on Australia's manufacturing and economy where we can't have anything made here."
