About Us

At Curry Ribbons, we’re an Australian manufacturer, importer and stockist of quality textile ribbons for a wide range of uses and applications. Our competitive edge comes from our fast turnaround times, friendly service, and decades of industry experience.

With a large stockholding, the ability to manufacture to order, and a team that’s always ready to help, we’re able to deliver exceptional service and high-quality products with some of the fastest lead times in the industry.

As a third-generation family business, we’re proud to support the Haberdashery, Show Ribbon, Screen-Printing, Marketing and Book Binding industries through our extensive range and specialised expertise in both premade and custom-made ribbon.

Our History

Early City Days

Curry Ribbons began in 1947, when two friends — Jack Curry and Muir Gibb — set up shop in Culwulla Chambers on Castlereagh Street, Sydney. Together, they began importing millinery supplies to service some of the city’s leading hat and dressmakers.

As the business grew, Jack discovered a particular passion and opportunity in ribbon. In 1950, he branched out and began specialising exclusively in ribbons, forming J.T. Curry & Co. Meanwhile, Muir continued to focus on other millinery essentials.

For the next 25 years, their two businesses operated side by side. And every day, without fail, at 5 pm on the dot, Jack and Muir would meet at the local pub to share a cold beer — a small daily tradition that reflected the friendship and camaraderie at the heart of how Curry Ribbons began.

The Next Generation

By 1979, the company had relocated to the iconic Dymocks Building on George Street, Sydney. Like many family businesses, all of the Curry children were involved in some capacity during those early years — learning the ropes, helping out after school, and doing whatever needed to be done.

David was the first to join full-time, and a few years later his friend, Brett Patterson, came on board. With new faces came fresh energy and fresh ideas… and boy, was change on the horizon!

The Move

In 1984, after watching his company grow and evolve, Jack Curry abruptly retired. At 10 am one morning, he simply stood up from his desk, walked out the door, and never came back — marking the end of an era.

By 1986, David recognised that change was needed and began steering the company in a new direction. His vision was to introduce manufacturing into the business, which meant they needed far more space than the city location could offer.

On 1 July 1986, J.T. Curry & Co. officially began trading from 319–325 Trafalgar Street, Petersham, where the very first ribbon-slitting machine was put into operation. During this time, John Curry (Jack’s eldest) and Graham Curry (the youngest of the Curry boys) could be found working in the Petersham factory.

Graham still pops into the office on the right days, now looking after J.T. Curry Distributing Co.

Turning 50

In 1997, J.T. Curry & Co. celebrated its 50th anniversary. By this stage, the company had become a well-known name across the gift-wrapping, haberdashery and printing industries, and the team made every effort to mark the milestone in style.

The celebrations included a special presentation from one of our major suppliers, Selectus Ltd, along with a personalised bottle of Vat 24 Dry Red from Stiens Wines of Mudgee — complete with Jack Curry’s photo proudly featured on the label.

Moving Forward

During the Petersham years, the world — and the ribbon industry — was undergoing major change. One of the biggest shifts for David, Graham and the team was the global move from acetate to polyester satin. To stay ahead, the business invested in new technology, including an ultrasonic cutting machine imported from Italy — a machine that, remarkably, is still in use today.

This period also marked another defining moment: the introduction of the trading name that so many of our loyal customers know and love. This was the era when Curry Ribbons was officially born.

The Move

As the business continued to grow, space once again became a challenge. In late 2013, Curry Ribbons relocated to its current premises at 2/79 Barton Street, Katoomba. The new site provided the room needed for expansion, accommodating six heat-cutting machines, two printing machines, and the ultrasonic cutting machine.

The warehouse mezzanine now stores tens of thousands of rolls of woven-edge ribbon, while the downstairs area holds a large stock of fabric satins ready for the manufacturing process.

The move to Katoomba also marked the retirement of long-time employee Brett Patterson, an integral part of the Curry Ribbons team for more than 30 years.

Gen 3 and Beyond

In early 2022, David approached his daughter Claire, and her husband Peter, with the idea of taking over the family business. After ten years in the automotive industry, Peter joined Curry Ribbons full-time in August 2022. Claire wrapped up her career as a Registered Nurse later that year, stepping into the business part-time while also caring for their two daughters, Georgia and Isabelle.

And who knows — in a few years’ time, we may just see Generation 4 joining in. Only time will tell.

Today, Claire and Peter continue the Curry family’s legacy with the same values that have shaped the business for more than seven decades: quality, service, and genuine care for the customers who have grown with us along the way.