The Brisbane manufacturing closure at BlackMilk will affect 15 jobs as the fashion label ends more than 15 years of local production and moves all manufacturing to China.
Brisbane Manufacturing Closure Ends Local Production
Chief executive Jackie Kruger said the company’s final Australian manufacturing facility was no longer commercially viable.
The decision reverses BlackMilk’s previously stated intention to retain production in Brisbane. The company had spent several years operating a combination of local and offshore manufacturing but no longer considered that model capable of supporting the business into the future.
Fifteen manufacturing jobs will be affected by the closure. BlackMilk has acknowledged the production team’s craftsmanship and said employees would receive support and respectful treatment during the transition.
Design Operations Will Stay in Brisbane
BlackMilk’s prints, silhouettes, technical development and creative direction will continue to be managed in Brisbane after production moves to China.
The company has also maintained that it will remain responsible for the quality of its clothing regardless of where each garment is manufactured.
Moving production offshore is expected to provide access to cotton, natural fibres, recycled polyester and specialist manufacturing capabilities that are unavailable through the Brisbane factory.
BlackMilk said the change was not intended to produce the cheapest possible garments. Its announcement instead linked the move to the future viability of the company’s manufacturing model and the materials it intends to use.
Customers Respond to End of Australian Production
The decision drew disappointment in an online Australian fashion discussion, particularly from long-term customers who had purchased BlackMilk clothing partly because some pieces were made locally.
Several participants recalled buying the label’s garments during its early-2010s popularity and retaining older Australian-made pieces for many years. Others said they had believed local manufacturing had already ended because an increasing share of the company’s clothing was being produced overseas.
Reaction was mixed, with some customers describing the closure as disappointing while also recognising that maintaining Australian production for more than 15 years was uncommon within the fashion industry.
Brand Began in Brisbane in 2009
James Lillis founded BlackMilk in Brisbane in 2009 after teaching himself to sew using a machine at home.
He initially made garments from stretch fabrics and repeatedly altered his first pair of leggings until they fitted correctly. Early products were sold at markets, while his online blog began attracting customers who contacted him to purchase the clothing he was making.
BlackMilk later became known for graphic leggings, alternative clothing and popular-culture designs. Its galaxy-print leggings attracted widespread attention during the early 2010s, and the range eventually expanded to include dresses and other garments.
Lillis died following an accident while on holiday overseas in February 2024.
Australian-made BlackMilk products will continue reaching customers while existing items remain in the production pipeline. The company also plans to continue identifying each garment’s country of manufacture.
Published 27-July-2026
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