Adventure Outfitters, with more than 20 years behind them, recently purchased 30-year-old Streets Clothing, moving into Streets' Princes St premises after being forced to close its retail shop in George St last year because of increased rent and costs, managing director Ruth Mullenger said yesterday.
"Adventure Outfitters has always been a small hand-to-mouth company. We are actually a bit of a dinosaur. We're supposed to be extinct, but no-one has told us yet," Ms Mullenger said.
With a combined staff of 11 and turnover near $1 million, Adventure Outfitters targets the tourism sector with about half of its product lines, with the other half aimed at the market for casual and outdoor clothing.
Streets had filled a niche in the sports and school uniform market, an area Adventure Outfitters has recently moved into more, making garments for skifields, rafting companies and uniforms for Dunedin airport staff.
"The synergy between the two seems to be working and forward orders are very good," Ms Mullenger said.
"The point of difference for us is quick manufacturing runs - within about four weeks," she said.
Around the country, the domestic clothing manufacturing industry is coming under increasing pressure from Asian imports and the recently signed Free Trade Agreement with China.
In Dunedin, these issues and the strength of the New Zealand dollar contributed to the recent closure of Tamahine Knitwear and the loss of 55 jobs.
Fortunately, most of those who lost their jobs have been absorbed back into the local clothing industry or have found alternative employment.
Ms Mullenger said while Adventure Outfitters was in "an almost constant state of change", it maintained an advantage over imported alternatives with its short turnaround time for orders, catering to special size requirements and ability to produce "top up" orders.
"This type of service just isn't available with imported alternatives," she said.
Adventure Outfitters had also had an increase in demand for small orders of quality garments, particularly in Merino and new technical cloths for jackets and outdoor wear.
