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Melba
Industries was founded in 1934 and commenced warp
knitting making single bar fabrics and satin striped
underwear in Rayon.
In
the early 1940's the company moved into the outerwear
market, but for the next 25 years lingerie fabrics
remained its principal product. With the advent of
more up to date plant and the ability to produce a
range of products in synthetic fibres, the company
rapidly expanded into velours for dressing gowns,
sleepwear, sportswear and tracksuit fabrics. A new
range of fabrics was also developed for intimate apparel
and evening wear.
In
1969 the company amalgamated with Acme Knitters and
Dyers giving Melba access to dyeing and finishing
facilities.
The
development of velour fabric coincided with a trend
by the automotive industry to replace vinyl with fabric.
Melba was the first company to supply fabric into
the motor industry in Australia, to the Ford Motor
Company in 1971. Melba Industries continued to develop
and supply an extensive range of automotive upholstery
velour fabrics covering seating, headlining, door
panels and sun visor applications.
Kawashima
Plant. Kyoto, Japan
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Towards
the latter part of the 80's, Melba Industries
acquired a number of smaller textile companies
resulting in a rationalisation of the Australian
industrial textile industry.Towards the end
of 1990, Melba industries entered into a joint
venture agreement with Kawashima Australia Pty.
Ltd. (A division of Kawashima Textile Manufacturers
Ltd. of Kyoto, Japan), to form Melba-Kawashima
Pty Ltd. This joint venture provided Melba with
greater access to state-of-the-art technology
and new styling, from one of the world's leading
fabric manufacturers.
In
1998 Melba purchased distribution rights for
Kawashima fabrics in Australia.
In
2002 Melba Industries returned to private ownership
and the company has continued to prosper and
grow with an exciting future, developing ongoing
opportunities to expand into new niche markets
globally, with an emphasis on the Asia Pacific
region.
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