COMPANY HISTORY
It wasn't easy manufacturing industrial workwear in the 1920s, but through true Aussie grit, David K Laidlaw founded and built a company that flourished even through the Depression. His entrepreneurial spirit saw the business grow and change its name to Yakka, which is Aboriginal for 'hard work'.
By the end of World War II, Yakka employed over 80 staff. The 1950s and 1960s signalled unparalleled expansion for Yakka, which continued unabated through the 1970s and into the 1980s when Yakka acquired two of its competitors, Jones Workwear and Can't Tear 'Em.
Yakka's growth didn't stop there. The 1990s saw Yakka expand into a new line of work wear - corporate clothing - when it secured major corporate apparel contracts with Telstra and Australia Post. Pursuing aggressive expansion, Yakka then acquired more corporate uniform businesses, and also launched its own executive uniform brand, Stylecorp Corporate Wear.
More recently the opening of Yakka's state of the art distribution centre has enabled greater efficiency and Yakka now manages single supply solutions for many of Australia's largest corporate and government organisations.
From corporate men's and women's suits, uniforms and customised uniforms, through to industrial strength overalls, trousers, shirts, outdoor protective workwear, high visibility and safety workwear and footwear, Yakka has Australia's white AND blue collar workforce covered!
Employing over 360 staff, Yakka has 5 state branches and 16 trade outlets located around Australia. Now a division of Pacific Brands Limited, Yakka continues to be Australia's largest supplier of 'Clothing and Footwear for work.'