Boston Publishing has its roots in the textile industry, and was established as Australasian Textiles Publishers in 1981 with strong industry input, in particular from The Society of Dyers & Colourists of Australia and New Zealand (SDCANZ). This organisation has a primary concern to promote professional education for the dyeing and finishing sector.
It considered that the Australian magazines published at that time were of poor quality.
The outcome was the establishment of Australasian Textiles, with the Editor, Stan Boston, a SDCANZ member and manager in the industry, and the Publisher, Rosemary Boston, Stan’s wife.
The magazine quickly flourished, as other industry organisations came on board, particularly the Council of Textiles and Fashion Industry of Australia (TFIA) and The Technical Textile and Nonwovens Association (TTNA).
From its establishment, the magazine focussed on the whole of the textile industry from fibre to end-product, with an emphasis in its editorial content on business strategy, new technology and new products, commercial news, politics and education. Since its inception it has published many hundreds of company features, and detailed technical overviews, many of which can be accessed from the archives in Boston Publishing’s online portals.
Another associated publication, Australasian Textiles & Fashion Index, published annually, is a comprehensive resource guide for products from fibres through to garments and textiles end-products.
Over the years, the textile and its associated industries, e.g. interior textiles and clothing, have undergone very significant structural change as a result of the reductions in industry assistance by successive governments. Now companies generally place reliance on design, product development, and control of sourcing, and much less on their own manufacturing.
Recognising the trends, Australasian Textiles became Australasian Textiles & Fashion in the mid-1990s, and, as well as improving the links between the various sectors, began to focus more on helping in the development of skills in design, new technologies for quick turnaround and new product development, specification and quality control of product sourced from anywhere in the world, and understanding the supply chain and the various options.
In 2003, due to illness, Stan Boston retired as Editor and his son, James Boston, took over as Managing Editor. Rosemary Boston remains publisher of Australasian Textiles & Fashion.
James, a graduate from Melbourne University in Science and Commerce, has quickly established himself both within the textiles and clothing industry and within other associated industries. He is supported by a team of professionals dedicated to quality publication.
After publishing a number of magazines on behalf of industry organisations, Boston Publishing launched Window Furnishings Australia in 2008 and Decor in 2009, as well as commissioning publications and magazines on behalf of private clients.
Both of these publications have been very well received within their sectors.