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ResearchGate reports that there are approximately 600 embroidery businesses in Australia in 2023, with over half of them offering smocking services. With such a wide range of options, choosing a reputable company to place an order can be a challenge.

I grew up in a traditional embroidery village in Vietnam and have worked in the embroidery industry for 10 years. I have also collaborated with leading garment suppliers from Nigeria, China and the United States. This gives me confidence that I can find a trustworthy embroidery business for you to work with.

In the following article, I will highlight the top 8 smocking suppliers in Australia. Now let’s discover who they are!

1. Old School Stitches

Old School Stitches, a renowned name in the smocking industry in Australia, is a company that specializes in providing high-quality smocking supplies. They offer a wide range of smocking products, including smocking fabrics, threads, needles, and patterns, catering to the needs of smocking enthusiasts and professionals alike.

Old School Stitches
Old School Stitches
  • Business product: Smocked baby clothes and even shoes; they also have smocking service for adults.
  • Price: $20- $50 for clothing and $11 for smocked baby shoes 
  • Production time: around 20 – 30 days

Whether you are a beginner looking to explore the art of smocking or an experienced smocker seeking high-quality supplies of both children and adults, Old School Stitches caters to a wide range of customers with diverse needs and skill levels.

Contact Information

  • Website: oldschoolstitches.com.au
  • Instagram: www.instagram.com/oldschoolstitches

2. Smocking Australia – Read Pleater, Smocking

Smocking Australia is a wholesale business specializing in smocking pleater machines and pleater needles. They offer a range of products to cater to the needs of smocking enthusiasts in Australia. 

Smocking Australia - Read Pleater, Smocking
Smocking Australia – Read Pleater, Smocking
  • Business product: Smocking Australia offers high-quality Read pleaters, suitable for various smocking projects. They also provide pleater needles compatible with Read, Sally Stanley, General Purpose, and possibly Amanda Jane pleaters.
  • Price: I do not have information about the price of their smocking services. If you have a need, please contact them for more detailed information.
  • Production time: around 2 – 4 weeks

The best fit for Smocking Australia’s services would be individuals or businesses involved in smocking projects who are in need of smocking pleater machines and pleater needles. Specifically, those who are interested in using Read pleaters, known for their quality and reliability, would benefit from Smocking Australia’s offerings.

Contact Information

  • Website: smockingaustralia.com
  • Address: Kent Street, Sydney, Australia
  • Phone: +61 2 80 727 721

3. Bella Grace Australia

Bella Grace Australia is a renowned online retailer specializing in high-quality smocking dresses for children. Their smocking service allows customers to customize their dresses with beautiful smocking designs.

Bella Grace Australia
Bella Grace Australia
  • Business product: Bella Grace Australia mainly stocks a range of  handmade and embroidered smock dresses for children, available in both classic and traditional designs..
  • Price: quite expensive, ranging from $38 – $70
  • Production time: around 15 – 20 days

Bella Grace Australia’s children’s smock dresses are likely to appeal to parents and caregivers who are looking for high-quality, handmade clothing options for their children. In addition, Bella Grace Australia also offers customizable options for bulk ordering.

Contact Information

  • Website: www.bella-grace.com.au
  • Email: hello@bella-grace.com.au
  • Tel: (02) 8880 2770
  • Address: Parramatta, NSW Australia

4. Gorman Shop

Gorman Shop is a renowned fashion brand that offers a smocking service, allowing customers to create unique and personalized smocked designs on their garments. 

Gorman Shop works with skilled artisans who specialize in the art of smocking. These artisans have expertise in creating intricate and detailed smocked designs, ensuring that each garment is crafted with precision and care.

Gorman Shop
Gorman Shop
  • Business product: Gorman Shop offers a wide range of contemporary and classic fashion apparel for women and girls. Their garments are designed with a signature unique to Gorman, combining modern and timeless styles.
  • Price: $66 – $83 for women smock dress and around $44 for smock top
  • Production time: 10 – 20 days

Gorman’s target audience includes individuals who love fashion and are interested in keeping up with the latest trends. They appreciate the brand’s comfortable fit and unique design. Women between the ages of 18 – 35 and girls under 9 will be most suitable.

Contact Information

  • Website: gormanshop.com.au
  • Instagram: www.instagram.com/gormanclothing

5. Bird and Bay

People come to Bird + Bay to find gifts for relatives and friends, and one of the most special gifts for little girls is gorgeous smock dresses.

Bird and Bay
Bird and Bay
  • Business product: Gorman Shop offers a wide range of contemporary and classic fashion apparel for women and girls. Their garments are designed with a signature unique to Gorman, combining modern and timeless styles.
  • Price: $66 – $83 for women smock dress and around $44 for smock top
  • Production time: 3 – 4 weeks

Bird and Bay’s customers are often people looking for smocking clothes for their little girls for special occasions such as birthdays, Valentine’s Day, etc.

Contact Information

  • Website: www.birdandbay.com.au
  • Address: 49 Patterson Road BENTLEIGH Vic
  • Phone: 03 7020 7498

6. Birdsnest

What’s special about Birdsnest is that they have a team of 150 people, of which 85% are women, and the products they create serve women.

Birdsnest is known for its unique online store dedicated to providing wardrobe and enhancing the inner confidence of women across Australia and beyond. They have also established a series of unique experiences in their home town of Cooma, NSW.

Birdsnest
Birdsnest
  • Business product: Their smocking dresses are all for women, and come in a full range of sizes and colors.
  • Price: Prices range from cheap to quite expensive, ranging from $44 to $119 for dress products. As for shirts and tops, they are cheaper, about $24 to $29.
  • Production time: 15 – 30 days

Their goal is to address the wardrobe challenges faced by women by offering personalized styling advice, fast delivery, outfit inspiration, exceptional customer service, hassle-free returns, and a wide range of brands and sizes that cater to all body types.

Contact Information

  • Website: www.birdsnest.com.au
  • Phone: 1300 696 378
  • Instagram: www.instagram.com/birdsnestonline
  • Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/birdsnestonline

7. The Misses Bonney Australia

The Misses Bonney Australia offers a wide range of high-quality smocked clothing for children. As a result, their products are relatively expensive compared to the general market, making them suitable for parents looking to purchase special gifts for occasions such as birthdays, Christmas, Easter, and more.

The Misses Bonney Australia
The Misses Bonney Australia
  • Business product: Their smocking dresses are all for boys and girls, but the options are limited to children under 6 years old.
  • Price: Quite expensive, ranging from $109 – $179 for smocked children’s clothes
  • Production time: 3 – 5 weeks

Why are the smock outfits of The Misses Bonney Australia so expensive? The company prides itself on sourcing premium fabrics and materials to create its outerwear garments. This focus on quality ensures clothes that are durable, comfortable and long-lasting.

Contact Information:

  • Website: themissesbonney.com.au
  • Address: Shop 134, Marina Mirage, 74 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach, QLD, 4217
  • Instagram: www.instagram.com/themissesbonney
  • Phone: 07 5528 0323
  • Email: sales@themissesbonney.com.au

8. St. Frock

St. Frock’s collection includes a variety of smocked dresses, tops, and jumpsuits, designed to suit different occasions and personal preferences. You may be surprised with their smocked clothes as they often feature modern prints, vibrant colors, and flattering silhouettes, making them a popular choice among fashion-forward individuals.

St. Frock
St. Frock
  • Business product: Their smocking dresses are mainly for women and their main products include dresses, tops, pants, jumpsuits, etc.
  • Price: Quite affordable, ranging from $69.9 – $79.9 for smocked dresses.
  • Production time: 20 – 30 days

Young and stylish individuals with a modern flair would particularly suit St. Frock’s offerings. St. Frock’s smock dresses are versatile and can be worn for various occasions, from casual outings to semi-formal events.

Contact Information

  • Website: www.stfrock.com.au
  • Email: hello@stfrock.com.au
  • Phone: 02 8068 2366

9. Mini Sweetie

Mini Sweetie products are mostly for girls between the ages of 1 and 9 years old. In addition to their smocked clothing products, they also sell hair clips and bows, and sometimes give them away for free if you buy a lot.

Mini Sweetie
Mini Sweetie
  • Business product: Their smocking dresses are for 1-9-year-old girls and their main products include smocked dresses, rompers and pants.
  • Price: Quite affordable, ranging from $52 – $59 for smocked baby dresses.
  • Production time: 15 – 30 days

Customers have generally rated the products quite well, stating that their smock dress collections are suitable for various special occasions. However, they have mentioned that there is a limited selection of smock dress collections, specifically pointing out that the Mini Sweetie is lacking options (with only two collections available on the website, namely New 2023 and Spring 2022 – which is outdated considering it is already mid-2024). As a result, customers feel that there are not many choices available to them.

Contact Information

10. The Iconic

The products offered by The Iconic cater to a wider audience, including women, men, and children. I don’t mean to compare the two stores, but The Iconic truly excels in their website interface, as they have organized their categories and collections in a visually appealing manner for customers.

The Iconic
The Iconic
  • Business product: The Iconic has smocked dresses and shorts for both women and girls, and they also have many other options for you to choose from, such as jumpsuits, shirts, knitwear, outerwear, etc..
  • Price: Quite expensive, ranging from $50 to above $500 for smocked dresses.
  • Production time: 10 – 20 days.

What is special about The Iconic is that they place importance on delivering a seamless shopping experience. Their user-friendly website, fast shipping, and responsive customer service contribute to a convenient and enjoyable purchasing process – people love that.

Contact Information

  • Website: www.theiconic.com.au
  • Instagram: www.instagram.com/theiconicau
  • Help Center

Conclusion

Australia is home to several reputable smocking suppliers that cater to the needs of smocking enthusiasts. These suppliers offer high-quality smocking materials and accessories, ensuring that customers have access to the tools they need for their smocking projects.

Whether you’re a smocked clothes retailer or an individual who wants to buy some smocked clothes for your closet, these suppliers have a wide range of products to suit your needs.

However, after researching 10 smock clothing suppliers, it is evident that most of them offer products at a relatively high price. However, if you are a startup with limited capital or someone looking to save costs without compromising on product quality, K-Embroidery in Vietnam could be a good choice.

We specialize in manufacturing and exporting smocked children’s clothing to demanding markets such as Japan, the UK, the US, and more. If you’re curious, take a look around our website or contact our sales team at +84 85 555 5961.

FAQs

What are the criteria for choosing a reputable smock clothing supplier?

First and foremost, prioritize product quality and ensure that the supplier consistently offers smock clothing made from high-quality materials with meticulous attention to detail.

Additionally, consider the cost aspect and compare prices from different suppliers to find one that strikes a balance between quality and affordability.

It is also important to factor in the supplier’s production time to ensure that they can meet your desired timeframe for delivering the smock clothing.

Lastly, don’t overlook the significance of customer service. Look for a supplier that provides excellent customer service, promptly addressing inquiries and being readily available to assist with any concerns or issues that may arise.

Are smocked fabrics flattering?

Absolutely! Smocked fabrics can be very flattering. However, there are a few things to keep in mind to enhance the flattering effect. It’s important to choose the right size, wear the appropriate undergarments, pay attention to the overall cut and style of the garment, and understand that smocking may not minimize the appearance of your bust or chest.

What materials are smock dresses made of?

Smock dresses are typically made from lightweight and breathable fabrics that gather well into the smocking stitches. Cotton is a popular choice for its comfort and versatility, allowing for intricate smocking details.