Silver Fleece: Weaving Tradition, Innovation, and Australian-Made Excellence
Silver Fleece, led by owner Melanie Flintoft, is a proudly Australian-made fashion and textile company located in Bowden, South Australia. With a strong commitment to heritage craftsmanship and modern design, the business specialises in creating high-quality, durable garments while also offering full-scale textile production services.
At the heart of Silver Fleece is its dedication to sustainability, quality, and local manufacturing. Their offerings span a wide range of products and services, including:
Apparel & Knitwear – Iconic Australian wool jumpers, polo shirts, and bespoke fashion pieces.
Textile & Fabric Manufacturing – In-house knitting, dyeing, and finishing of premium textiles.
Custom Manufacturing (CMT) – Complete end-to-end garment production for corporate, fashion, and specialised clients.
Corporate & Government Supply – Uniforms, custom-striped rugby and polo shirts, and premium gifting solutions.
B2B Services – Design support, production planning, textile consulting, and fabric runs from small to large scale.
This unique blend of services makes Silver Fleece a leader in both consumer fashion and commercial supply, with products designed to meet lifestyle, corporate, and large-scale business needs.
Embracing Digital Growth with Adelaide Business Hub
Melanie’s decision to join the Digital Solutions Program came from recommendations by Selma Barlow from Charles Sturt Council and the Office of Small and Family Business, who highlighted it as an excellent opportunity for business growth and support.
Prior to joining, Silver Fleece faced challenges around streamlining systems and processes, particularly finding an ERP platform suitable for small businesses that could centralise operations and improve communication across the team. With guidance from Adelaide Business Hub and tailored mentoring with Swan from Effortless Efficiency, the company explored digital solutions that helped overcome these obstacles.
Key Learnings and Improvements
One of the most valuable outcomes was learning how to build efficient costing templates. This new approach allowed Silver Fleece to accurately identify raw costs and determine product profitability.
The program also helped enhance production planning. By creating a machine production calendar, the team was able to map out usage, minimise downtime, and prioritise the most profitable products. Additionally, overhead costs in costing templates were updated from a flat rate to a percentage of each product, delivering a clearer picture of true costs and profitability.
These strategic improvements have strengthened pricing decisions, streamlined production processes, and maximised overall profitability.
Advice for Other Businesses
Melanie encourages other businesses considering the program to fully engage, be open about challenges, and focus on streamlining processes. She highlights that even small changes, such as refining costing templates or improving machine scheduling, can deliver significant results in profitability and growth.
Silver Fleece continues to stand as a shining example of how embracing digital tools and guidance can complement heritage craftsmanship and drive modern business success.
Learn more about Silver Fleece here:
Website: silverfleece.au
Instagram: @silverfleece
LinkedIn: Silver Fleece | Melanie Flintoft