Black Milk Enters Voluntary Administration After 17 Years

Brisbane-founded fashion brand Black Milk has entered voluntary administration 17 years after its launch, appointing Apex Advisory to oversee operations and explore a potential sale.

Co-founder Linda Lillis confirmed that trading remains uninterrupted and all staff stay in place while administrators review the business.

Established in 2009 by Linda Lillis and the late James Lillis, the online-first label grew around a devoted fanbase known as ‘Sharkies’ before mounting costs forced a restructuring.

“Voluntary administration gives the business an opportunity to explore what comes next,” she added. “We don’t yet know what the outcome of that process will be, and I don’t want to make promises about something that is now in the hands of the administrators.”

“What I can say is that entering administration does [not necessarily mean the end of Black Milk](https://insideretail.com.au/careers/blackmilks-ceo-on-the-importance-of-being-prepared-diligent-and-measured-202512), and we very much hope it isn’t.”

The company said it is exploring a potential sale.

Earlier this year, Black Milk faced backlash from its community when it closed the last of its manufacturing operations in Australia, offshoring the process to China and moving on from its ‘Made in Australia’ label.

“Over the past few years, BlackMilk has undertaken significant change to respond to a very different retail environment and build a more sustainable business,” Lillis said. “The team has worked incredibly hard and made meaningful progress, but the combination of a challenging consumer environment, rising costs and increasingly complex global trading conditions has continued to place pressure on the business.”

Lillis asked customers to respect Black Milk employees’ privacy. “They are processing this news themselves while continuing to pack your orders, answer your emails, and look after our customers,” she added. “The people behind Black Milk care deeply about this business, and they are facing uncertainty too.”