Australia’s Leading Garment Pattern Supplier Closes, Sewers Concerned

Decades ago, picking out sewing patterns was a real ritual for many Australians. It was just part of the sewing experience.

But things are shifting. In early February, Simplicity and McCall Pattern Service Australia—the company behind the “big four” sewing pattern brands—announced they’d close their Sydney warehouse as part of a global restructure.

This marks the end of an era for a heritage business that supplied paper patterns to craft retailers for decades. Some sewers feel nostalgic about it, while others shrug and see it as a natural step in the digital age.

The Decline of Paper Patterns in Australia

For years, sewers would head into a haberdashery, pick up a Vogue, Simplicity, or McCall’s paper pattern, and plan their next project. It took time, money, and a good bit of thought.

Michelle Sanger from Melbourne remembers this well. She says she always spent time carefully considering her patterns and materials when she started sewing.

In February, Simplicity and McCall Pattern Service Australia announced they’d wind up operations and shut their Sydney warehouse. Simplicity McCall’s covers Simplicity, McCall’s, Vogue Patterns, Butterick, New Look, Know Me, and Burda.

These brands supplied most of the paper patterns to craft retailers—reportedly 99% of Spotlight’s patterns came from them.

Failure to Evolve with the Times

Many people see the closure as a result of the company not keeping up with the times. Ann Grose, who runs Designer Stitch, points out that these brands only offered hardcopy patterns and were slow on releasing new styles.

Independent designers, meanwhile, have offered digital PDF sewing patterns for over 20 years. They move fast, adapting to trends and demands as they pop up.

Grose says the rise of independent designers has hit the commercial industry hard. These smaller designers can draft, test, and sell digital patterns that fit current styles and a wider range of body types.

The internet lets them reach customers all over the world instantly. It’s just a different game now.

The Impact on the Sewing Community

Some in the sewing community feel a sense of loss with the closure of a major garment patterns company. Others, though, are more matter-of-fact about it.

Siobhán Leyne, a sewer in Canberra, doesn’t think the closure will affect her or her sewing circle. She says they already support independent retailers who stopped stocking the big four ages ago.

Janet Ogilvie, who founded The Sewing School, sees the decline of paper patterns as just part of the industry’s natural evolution. Young sewers are turning to online sewing and upcycling tutorials on social media.

They’re also hitting op shops for dresses to alter and using old patterns they dig up there. It’s a different approach, but it works for them.

The Future of Garment Making

The future of garment making still looks pretty bright, even with fewer paper patterns around. Online, independent pattern makers can draft, test, and sell digital patterns that fit modern trends and all kinds of body types.

Grose says she can get a pattern designed and tested in about four weeks. The internet lets her send PDFs out to the world instantly—no waiting around for shipments.

Kathy Sozou from McGrathNicol, the liquidator handling the company’s wind-up, is working with Spotlight to buy up as much remaining stock as possible. She’s also reaching out to smaller stockists to clear out inventory.

What happens to any unsold patterns? No one really knows yet.

Preserving the Legacy of Paper Patterns

Lots of sewers, like Sanger and Ogilvie, have big collections of vintage patterns. They reuse them and share them around.

Ogilvie even compares her stash to a library. She thinks it’s important to keep these patterns safe for the next generation.

Even as the industry changes, people will always need clothes. Ogilvie stays optimistic about the future of sewing, believing the craft will keep thriving—even if it leans more digital and online as time goes on.

Conclusion

The closure of Simplicity and McCall Pattern Service Australia really feels like the end of an era for paper sewing patterns. Some sewers feel a real sense of loss.

Others just shrug and see it as a natural shift in a digital world. Independent designers and digital patterns have totally changed the sewing scene.

Now, it’s easier for more people to dive in and adapt to new trends. Still, those who love paper patterns will keep their legacy alive by sharing their collections.

Garment making isn’t going anywhere. People always need clothes, so sewing—thankfully—will stick around.

Curious to know more? The full story’s over at The Guardian.