The Social Outfit is a learning organisation functioning as a social enterprise. It provides education and skills to participants from new migrant and refugee communities through accredited training in Clothing Production.

The Social Outfit operating model is based on the Melbourne-based social enterprise, The Social Studio (established 2009). Although they are separate bodies, the two organisations operate in supportive partnership.

From Tuesday 16 April to Friday 10 May 2013, The Social Outfit ran a pilot project based at The Rocks, Sydney. The purpose of the pilot was to host a creative workshop space, exhibition site and pop-up store (showcasing ethically-accredited and locally-manufactured clothing from sister organisation, The Social Studio), to show what The Social Outfit could be like in Sydney, and begin celebrating the skills and creativity of people from refugee communities living in Sydney.

This pilot project was followed by an in-school project at Fairfield High School that ran for 8 weeks during term 3, 2013.

The Social Outfit's own onsite education program commenced in May 2014, with the opening of a retail store and design school in Newtown, Sydney.