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"Allara Creative" in black handwritten and print lettering with a pen and pencil illustration, on a white background.

Allara Creative

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Who we are

Allara Creative is a work-integrated social enterprise (a business that employs people who face barriers to the labour market as a core part of its model) based on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country in Canberra, ACT. It was co-founded by Jess and Ruth, who together bring skills in graphic design, illustration, and enterprise management. Ruth is the artist behind the product range; Jess leads the business operations.

The organisation's purpose is to help women from refugee backgrounds find confidence, community, and connection as they begin their new lives in Canberra. It does this by providing paid employment alongside one-on-one volunteer support, training, and mentoring. Every product sold directly funds this work.

Allara Creative is also connected to a related initiative called Allara Drives.

Gallery

Allara Creative stall holder standing behind a market stall displaying illustrated tea towels, cards and prints.

Marah, one of our market manager employees from Syria

A black and white illustrated greeting card reading "Wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness" displayed on a card rack.

Greeting cards - Our original product, now with more than 200 designs 

Two adults reading to a group of primary school children seated on a classroom floor.

Co-founders Ruth and Jess doing a book reading of one of their children’s books

An Allara Creative card reading "Canberra — better than ya reckon" displayed on a market table.

In addition to greeting cards, books and magnets, we also sell tea towels, patches, notebooks and more

Two Allara Creative stallholders with arms raised in front of their market display of cards, prints and gifts.

We sell our products through markets, e-commerce and wholesale

What we do

Allara Creative designs and sells a range of Australian-made gift and homeware products, all illustrated by co-founder Ruth. Products include greeting cards, tea towels, mugs, notebooks, stickers, bookmarks, tote bags, keyrings, posters, patches, gift tags, games, and books. Many items are themed around Australian places, animals, and everyday moments. Products are available online with flat-rate shipping, and through wholesale and stockist partners.

Employment for refugee women is embedded directly into the business. Staff take on a range of roles including at-home packing, market and retail management, and administration. This paid work is paired with wrap-around support: volunteers provide one-on-one mentoring, and the organisation offers training to help employees develop practical skills and build social connections.

Allara Creative works with a network of partner organisations and has received coverage from ABC Radio Canberra and local media. It accepts volunteers and is open to wholesale and stockist enquiries from retailers who want to carry its products.

Our work

Head office:

  • New South Wales

Service location(s):

  • Australian Capital Territory

Type(s) of actor:

  • Social enterprises
Team portrait photos - contact us

We’d love to hear from you!

Reach out to one of our team members, and share input and ideas about how we can evolve Understorey.

Get in touch
Allara Creative | Understorey