Hard Yakka
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Workwear manufacturing |
| Predecessor | D. K. Laidlaw & Sons Pty Ltd |
| Founded | 1935 in Brunswick, Victoria, Australia |
| Headquarters | Brunswick, Victoria , Australia |
Area served | Southern Hemisphere |
| Products | Workwear, safety footwear, accessories |
| Owner | Wesfarmers (since 2014) |
| Parent | Wesfarmers Workwear Group |
Hard Yakka is an Australian manufacturer of workwear, established in 1935 in Brunswick, Victoria under the name D. K. Laidlaw & Sons Pty Ltd. The company later rebranded to Hard Yakka, with yakka being a colloquial Australian term for labor.
Recognized as one of the largest suppliers of workwear in the southern hemisphere, Hard Yakka provides a wide range of product collections such as Foundations, Legends, Koolgear, Protect FR, and 3056: Born in Brunswick. Their offerings also include safety footwear and various accessories.
In 2007, ownership of Hard Yakka transferred to Pacific Brands, and subsequently in 2014, it became part of Wesfarmers through its Workwear Group division, which also encompasses brands like KingGee and Stubbies. The brand gained prominence by supplying uniforms for the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games and the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
Etymology of name
The phrase "(Hard) yakka" is Australian vernacular for demanding or tough work, derived from the Yagara language spoken in southern Queensland, where it means "work." This expression has been in use since the 1840s and was chosen by the company to reflect its Australian roots and dedication to industrial workwear.