IB Woman
Issue No. 25 - October/November 2005
Turning silver into gold
Cathy Barton
by Penelope Herbert
The headline should read ‘Factory Worker Buys Factory’ but instead it reads ‘Factory Destined to become an Icon’.
Cathy Barton is the new owner of Silver Fleece Knitting Mill, an Adelaide factory where she once worked. Her desire to return the knitting mill to its former business glory is exceeded only by her determination to ensure Silver Fleece becomes a South Australian icon.
“I am sick of the mentality that we have to manufacture off-shore,” Cathy says, vehemently. “And I will object to that mindset until my dying breath. There is no reason why many jobs have to be lost and why the public has to be offered inferior goods when we can retain a workforce, produce superior products and keep money circulating internally.”
And Cathy really has put her money where her mouth is. Currently employing 42 people, the mill produces garments in 100% cotton knit or a cotton-polyester blend. Products include test cricket jumpers, State and AFL football jerseys, most school uniforms, polo shirts, rugby shirts, hats, scarves and children’s garments. And, for the Japanese market, dog coats that resemble football jerseys, complete with tiny white cotton collars.
“If it’s a knit product, we can make it,” Cathy says. “Any colour combination, any type of stripe, and any insignia. We outsource embroidery but everything else is produced here at the mill. We steam, flatten, hand cut, sew, finish, check and retain quality control on-site.”
And the site is a factory open to the public in Hindmarsh, tucked behind Port Road, not far from the Entertainment Centre. Although cavernous, the factory is open with an abundance of natural light. There is a warmth about the place that emanates from not only the miles and miles of colourful yarn and finished products hanging everywhere, but from the implicit satisfaction of the workers who understand that they working for a living, but also working for an icon.
Aft...
