Simply Oarsome Australia

17/04/2026

ATTENTION POLY/COTTON LYCRA LOVERS!!!

We know that there are still plenty of you out there who prefer this soft breathable lycra to the shiny, slippery polyester lycra that most rowing suits are made of these days by rowing kit manufacturers, including us. Polyester fabrics have taken over the sportswear industry because it is the only fabric that can be sublimation printed (which we do in house), allowing for more eye catching designs, fewer seams, faster drying, etc.

The Queensland mill that made poly/cotton lycra fabric for us (TFS in Stapylton) closed their doors at the start of last year. They were the last Australian manufacturer of lycra fabrics, so now we have to use imported lycra fabrics only. There are no supply issues with doing this at this point but it is sad that we can't use Australian fabric in our Tasmanian made rowing kit anymore. There are no other mills that we know of in the world making poly/cotton lycra any more. Despite the fact that they also made polyester lycra and supplex lycra, it was no longer viable for TFS to continue because most Australian sportswear companies now get their manufacturing done in China (such 776BC, Pontoon, Tuck and a couple of others in rowing).

We purchased extra stock of poly/cotton lycra before they closed but we are now running out of some colours. In the past week we have removed the black, navy and dark navy poly/cotton lycra options off our website. Whilst we don't have rolls of these fabrics any more we have tubs of cut lengths/remnants that we can use, and have some made up stock of shorts, tights and rowing suits in our showroom.

There are still other colours available on our website, but if you would like to get the last black, navy or dark navy poly/cotton rowing kit ever, please email us at [email protected] and let us know what you are hoping to order. We will let you know if it is possible to make it, and if it isn't let you know what poly/cotton lycra garments in your size are in our showroom and can be sent to you.

Thanks again to our customers who continue to support the Australian manufacturer of rowing kit.

Love from Tassie
Martine

26/02/2025

Oarsome rowing kit - Made in Australia, not that other country that is currently conducting war practice off our East Coast. You know the one - where most other companies get their rowing kit made.

We thank our loyal customers who choose Australian made, keeping their money in our wonderful country and supporting Australian manufacturing jobs.

Love from Tassie
Martine

09/10/2024

Great results for the Cunnamulla Rowing Club. So nice to see our Australian made rowing kit being worn in the outback!

28/07/2022

THROWBACK THURSDAY!
Celebrating 33 years of Oarsome-ness

I found some time to unpack and sort some boxes that had remained unopened since Oarsome moved to Deloraine, Tasmania 6 years ago. I came across an old edition of Australian Rowing magazine and it got me reminiscing .
This edition was 1991 when I was 3 years into a 20 year streak of supplying the Australian Rowing Team. A lot has changed since then. The range of lycra fabrics available to us has increased hugely. The fabric printing technology has improved greatly. We now manufacture using the 100% renewable hydro power that Tasmania provides. The prices have increased, of course, though probably not us much as they should have! Rowing clothing competitors have come and gone and some of those that are still around choose to manufacture in foreign countries, where labour is so much cheaper.

One thing, however, will never change. Simply Oarsome will always manufacture in Australia using predominantly Australian made high performance lycra fabrics. To my wonderful customers who choose to buy our Tasmanian made, ethically produced sportswear and support Australian workers, I am very grateful. Love from Tassie, Martine.

20/03/2021

NATIONALS UPDATE:

Simply Oarsome, regretfully, will not be be having a merchandise stall at the National Championships this week due to the enormous increase in club, school and individual orders over the last six months. We are manufacturers, first and foremost, and our priority will always be to get customers orders done on time. We had hoped to have some space in our production schedule in the last month to make some new regatta stock but the orders just kept coming! Regatta stock is usually produced in the slower Winter months, but having most of the staff off the premises during Covid last Winter didn't allow this to happen.

From those schools and clubs that have recently chosen to come back to an Australian manufacturer, to those who continue to support us year after year, even decade upon decade, we thank you for your support and commitment to an Australian company and manufacturing jobs for Australians.

We look forward to seeing you at Nationals next year with a large range of new and unique rowing gear.

Best of luck to everybody competing and we hope you enjoy your time in our magical state.

Regards
Martine

20/02/2021

Best venue in the world!! Lake Barrington is OARSOME (Simply....

24/03/2020

COVID 19 IMPORTANT NOTICE

We are still taking orders and manufacturing is continuing. We have made staff days/times flexible so that we have fewer people in the production area and office at any given time so that we can ensure social distancing and carry out frequent cleaning of surfaces, machines and cutting tools. All employees have been given the option of self isolating, but to date only one employee has taken the option of staying home.

Should the government order a shutdown of non essential businesses, we will not have staff attend the factory, but we are assuming that the staff who live on the premises will be able to work on.

We hope that all Australians remain safe and look forward to all sport bouncing back in the future as we all know the significant contribution that sport makes to the health and well being of our society.
Neil and Martine Myers

26/11/2019

26/11/2019

Winning Men's crew representing the Southern University Campus (photo provided by Matt Wyton):
Alex Hutchinson, Sam Casey, Hamish Vermey, Hamish Johnston, Luke Haas, Matt Wyton, Joseph Wilson, George Curtis and Sarah Adkins