Gina Rinehart’s S. Kidman & Co snaps up iconic Aussie clothing brand Driza-Bone

S. Kidman & Co executive chairman Gina Rinehart said the acquisition marks S. Kidman & Co and Hancock’s first step into the clothing and apparel industry.“Driza-Bone’s oilskin coats are iconic. My interest in Australian fashion started when I was quite young as my mother designed and made clothes for herself and me too over my early years,” she said. “We are honoured to carry forward Driza-Bone’s pioneering legacy while supporting its growth. Our family’s and company’s long association with the outback seems to be a natural fit.”

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Gina Rinehart closes in on Driza-Bone, Rossi Boots deal

Driza-Bone, with a history stretching back to 1898, was acquired by the British motorcycle clothing company Belstaff in the late 1980s but then went through more ownership changes before the Lempriere family, which has strong interests in the wool industry, bought it well over a decade ago. Driza-Bone was later merged with RB Sellars, a rural clothing business founded by Richard Sellars-Jones, to become Propel Group. The manufacturing assets of fellow heritage brand Rossi Boots were bought by Propel Group in April 2020, following Propel’s earlier purchase of Rossi’s IP and business assets. Rossi’s history dates back to 1908. It’s best known for its iconic combat boots, designed for soldiers in World War I and which led to a decades-long partnership with the Australian Defence Force.

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Propel Group to sell Driza-Bone business

Propel Group is selling its water-resistant coat and apparel brand Driza-Bone to billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart via her S Kidman and Co pastoral company. “We will bolster Driza-Bone’s expansion strategies, enabling the brand to venture into new international markets while staying true to its Australian heritage and commitment to superior quality,” said S Kidman & Co chief executive Adam Giles. “The Driza-Bone brand is synonymous with the spirit of the Australian bush. We are committed to upholding and nurturing Driza-Bone’s legacy of Australian craftsmanship while also propelling it to new heights.”

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RINEHART MAKES NO BONESS ABOUT LOVE FOR AN AUSSIE ICON

Billionaire WA mining magnate Gina Rinehart is making a foray into fashion retail, with a purchase of the beloved Australian brand Driza-Bone.“We are honoured to carry forward Driza-Bone’s pioneering legacy while supporting its growth,” she told reporters. “Driza-Bone has been an emblem of Australian quality and resilience.”

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GINA PICKS UP DRIZA-BONE IN BIRTHDAY SALE

Iconic Australian brand DrizaBone has been bought by billionaire businesswoman Gina Rinehart’s S. Kidman & Co in a move expected to preserve and expand its legacy. Ms Rinehart said Driza-Bone had been intertwined with pivotal moments in Australian history. “From sheltering soldiers at Gallipoli during World War I, to being worn in the magnificent film The Man from Snowy River, and by our Olympians for the Sydney Olympics, Driza-Bone has been an emblem of Australian quality and resilience,” she said. “Driza-Bone’s oilskin coats are iconic.” Ms Rinehart said she was honoured to carry forward Driza-Bone’s pioneering legacy while supporting its growth. “Our family’s and company’s long association with the outback seems to be a natural fit,” she said.

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A ‘NATURAL FIT’ FOR RINEHART’S STABLE

From mining to cattle to iconic oilskin coats, Gina Rinehart is increasing her stock in rural Australia with the acquisition of famed fashion brand Driza-Bone. Mrs Rinehart, who was raised on her family’s cattle station in the Pilbara, said the purchase was a snug fit for a company, founded by celebrated cattle baron Sir Sidney Kidman, which was bought by Hancock Agriculture and joint venture partner Shanghai CRED in 2016. “Driza-Bone’s oilskin coats are iconic,” Mrs Rinehart said.

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Projects regulated to death

As the minister overseeing the process, he has been unable to effect any real change in seven years, so there’s little confidence that change will happen quickly. According to the CCIWA, there are about $381 billion of investment projects in the pipeline that are yet to receive environmental approval that could create an estimated 106,000 jobs. Of those the CCIWA surveyed, 40 per cent were at risk of abandoning their project due to longer-than expected approval times. As outlined in the WA CCI’s Green Web report, businesses have described working with the State Environmental Protection Authority as “laborious and frustrating” with “ever-changing guidelines and shifting goal posts”. Currently, the normal expectation for a mine to come online is eight to 10 years, double traditional expectations of four to five years.

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Cornering a different market?

Mining billionaire Gina Rinehart has taken a majority stake in the Bunbury Farmers Market, heralding a new era for the South West business. The West Australian can reveal that Hancock Prospecting, Mrs Rinehart’s key investment vehicle, has reached a deal with the market’s current owners — Kevin Opferkuch and Graham Heath — but the exact terms were not disclosed. In a statement, Hancock said the investment would help to accelerate plans to grow the much-loved market, including the development of the recently announced Vasse Village Bunbury Farmers Market, which is set to open in late 2024. “Additional future sites, including Perth locations, will also allow new customers to enjoy the unique BFM experience,” Hancock said.

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