What began with one golfer struggling to find a decent-looking headcover has grown into a handmade Perth business now shipping products around Australia and overseas.
Mackem Golf was founded by Adam Brown and Paige Harding, who create handcrafted golf accessories from a humble shop and studio in the Kalamunda hills.
The idea first took shape when Adam went looking for something to refresh his golf bag but found himself uninspired by what was available.
“Many were just mass-produced and really not nice to look at — not for our eyes anyway,” he explains. “I was looking for something more traditional that felt good to use and would last. Ideally, something that was more handmade or artisan; something that would age and be in the bag for years, like your favourite jacket or pair of jeans.”
So he asked Paige, whose background is in fashion and textiles, if she could make one.
Using Paige’s old university sewing machine, the pair began experimenting with fabrics, patterns and designs from their two-bedroom apartment in Wembley, turning the dining table into an makeshift cutting bench. Paige says her textile experience helped her understand not only how to construct the products, but how to make them feel premium.
“The tactile and touch nature of the products is really important,” she explains. “I worked in visual merchandising for a few years after university as well, so understanding how to curate collections and how to match styles together — and, well, knowing how to sew and make patterns is also pretty helpful.”
Adam is even more direct about her contribution.
“Without Paige, this couldn’t have happened,” he says, matter-of-factly. “She’s a wizard on a sewing machine and understands how to create and put together collections, and what fabrics work well together. She’s the brains and the brawn of Mackem.”
As positive feedback and international orders began arriving, their side project gradually became too big to stay there. Both were still working full-time while cutting and sewing orders late into the night, until it became clear something had to change.
Paige eventually took the leap into Mackem Golf full-time, with the decision quickly validated by the arrival of their first major wholesale order. The business later moved into its own Kalamunda studio, giving the pair room to work more efficiently, store their growing fabric collection and develop new ideas.
The move also helped cement Mackem Golf’s identity.
“There’s a real down-to-earth culture in the Hills, supporting local, handmade, artisan and small businesses,” they tell us. “We have so many locals pop in to show their support, even if they don’t golf. The Hills almost solidified what the brand is: we’re local, we’re handmade, we’re artisan.”
And that local production remains central to the business, even as demand grows. The pair says though they’ve repeatedly been asked when they planned to outsource manufacturing, doing so would run against the reason Mackem Golf exists.
“Handmaking everything locally also gives us the flexibility to create small batches, one-off pieces and custom orders that simply aren’t possible with large-scale manufacturing,” they say. “Rather than chasing volume, we’ve focused on creating products that feel personal, unique and built to last.”
That philosophy extends to Mackem Golf’s bespoke work, which has transformed old football shirts, wedding suits, leather jackets and boardshorts into one-of-a-kind golf accessories. One of the most memorable commissions involved a set made from a family tartan, embroidered with the initials of a customer’s late father.
“We double-checked to make sure there wasn’t a mistake,” Adam laughs. “We were told it was his dad’s initials; he had recently passed away, and he wished they had spent more time together on the golf course. That really got me, as this wasn’t just an object — it was so valuable to them.”
While style is a major focus, every fabric also needs to survive years on the course. And so the pair works with materials including premium wool, waxed canvas, corduroy and reclaimed textiles, rejecting plenty of options they love if they do not believe they will last.
The biggest challenge now is simply finding enough hours to keep up. At one point, Mackem Golf aimed to turn around orders within two days. That wait has since stretched as demand has increased, occasionally leading to late nights in the studio.
“Our customers are very understanding that their orders are literally made to order… We’re not Amazon Prime and never want to be.”
Mackem Golf is now expanding its core range, developing more accessories and working on new collaborations, including an exclusive GolfBox release and a project with Perth screen-printing brand Okka Golf. There are also plans to explore larger one-off pieces, including golf and travel bags, while growing its bespoke wholesale offering for clubs and brands.
And just in case you were wondering, why the name?
Adam is originally from Sunderland, where “Mackem” is a nickname linked to the city’s shipbuilding history and the phrase, “We mack ’em, you tack ’em.”
“So we literally Mack’em,” the pair says. “You tack’em.”
Mackem Golf’s Kalamunda studio is located at 10/22 Haynes Street, pop in for a visit or head to mackemgolf.com to browse their collection.
Image Credit: Supplied
