Covid NSW: Western Sydney tradie launches fashion brand Cuzy T

A Western Sydney tradie’s surprising new business venture has proved a success amid Sydney’s Covid lockdown.

Dropping the tools as a tradie to follow dreams as a fashion designer have turned out to be a huge success for one Western Sydney pool fencer during Covid.

Hilton Harris has turned his passion for apparel into a reality by launching his own urban wear Cuzy T brand which has helped through the financial perils of lockdown.

After showcasing his clothing at Parklea markets early last year, Hilton was approached by Westfield in Mt Druitt to lease a shopfront for three months where he turned over $75,000.

Pool fence installer turned fashion designer Hilton Harris with his son Credence, 10. Hilton established the urban brand Cuzy T. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“I gave that a go to see how my brand would go among all the top brands like Nike and Adidas. It really went well,” he said.

“People were coming in and saying it was about time they had some local brands. The good thing about it is that all cultures were coming in to buy it. I felt really good when people were coming in and supporting me.”

As a single dad to three young kids, Hilton didn’t let lockdown put an end to his plans to grow the business, looking for new ways to run it from his Marayong home and maintain a steady income to pay rent and feed his children.

“Of course, at the moment with lockdown and it being wintertime, I’m not installing any pool fences. I have my little shed at the back of my home where I organise all my boxes of stock [of clothes].

“It’s difficult but you have to try and adapt.”

After looking for different platforms to sell his stock, he uses new delivery service Flash Market.

Flash Market founder Matty Gee launched the platform to facilitate faster delivery services from retailers, saying Covid had made consumers “savvier” when shopping online.

“Flash Market is like a localised version of eBay. The difference is we have our own integrated delivery app with our own drivers … currently 2,300,” Mr Gee said

“Once a transaction is made, it goes to the driver, and they will pick it up from the retailer and deliver to the consumer within the hour or the same day depending on what was selected.”

Originally published as Covid NSW: Western Sydney tradie launches fashion brand Cuzy T