Launched from a storefront on Collingwood’s Smith Street in 2009, The Social Studio began as a not-for-profit using upcycled fashion as a vehicle for social change for youth from migrant and refugee backgrounds. Today we have grown into a highly regarded ethical and sustainable fashion school, retailer and manufacturing social enterprise, headquartered in the Collingwood Yards arts precinct. One thing, however, has never changed: people have always been at the heart of what we do.

Over the past decade, we’ve provided more than 780 young people with meaningful, practical experience to support them as they build their futures through our free, accredited training programs in clothing production, as well as mentoring and traineeships across our retail and creative production arms. We’ve provided a number of jobs in our school, studio, store and beyond, won awards and so much more.

And we don’t do it alone.

Operating as a not-for-profit, we have a Board of Management made up of design and business professionals, media and communications experts, community development workers and community leaders from refugee communities here in Melbourne. And thanks to the support we receive through our philanthropic funding and social enterprise activities, all of our education and work experience programs are provided free of charge. This means that every cent generated through the Studio is invested right back into creating social benefits for our students, staff and their communities. Our students’ success is what keeps us going. To learn more about the work we do, click here.