10 Ethical Aussie Fashion Brands To Look Out For
By
Izzy
✨Long story short, ethical fashion is the design, production and distribution that focuses on reducing harm to people and the planet✨
The never-ending trends, criminally low prices, the convenience and accessibility of fast fashion is just not groovy, to say the very least. Fast fashion has become a detrimental environmental and social issue but ethical fashion is here to the rescue.
Now, you might be thinking "far out, these prices are pretty exxy". But, the way I see it is I would rather save up slowly and buy one new dress from Afends that lasts me years, rather than buy five cheap dresses that rip and tear after one wash and go out of fashion as quick as they came into it. Of course, there are other ways to sustainably shop.
If you're looking to support Aussie ethical brands, here's a list of a few bangers. Some of these brands aren't perfect, but they're all working towards becoming more and more ethical and keeping people and the planet in mind every step of the way.
1. Afends
Suss out their ethical info ✨here✨.
Skaters, hippies and anyone in between can find something funky at Afends and better yet, from design to material, supplier to packaging, and lastly to transportation, this brand is thinking of everything.
For example, Afends uses eco-friendly materials including organic cotton and renewable energy in its supply chain to reduce its climate impact.
2. Her Pony The Label
Suss out their ethical info ✨here✨.
Her Pony is your one-stop shop for your dream festival fit. Their pieces are handmade in small runs, avoiding mass production at all costs to ensure that each item passes through caring hands. They've also been busy introducing more and more conscious fibres into their collection like Asia Pacific rayon, cotton spandex and linen.
3. Eat Your Water
Suss out their ethical info ✨here✨.
Eat Your Water are a surf brand from my hometown of Newcastle! They're super transparent with what they do well at (like donating to charities and not-for-profit organisations, removing all plastic from any part of the process, and sourcing sustainable fibres with our manufacturers, such as organic and recycled cotton), and equally transparent with what they're working on changing. Their tagline is 'do the right thing' and they are definitely living by that.
4. Clothing The Gaps
Suss out their ethical info ✨here✨.
Clothing The Gaps is an Aboriginal-owned, Victorian-based, streetwear label that uses their brand and platform to campaign, educate and elevate Aboriginal peoples voices and causes. Accredited by Ethical Clothing Australia, the brand sells gender-neutral, quality clothing to fund and support Clothing The Gaps Foundation. Items are also screen-printed by local artists. *Chefs kiss*.
5. Nine Lives Bazaar
Suss out their ethical info ✨here✨.
Nine Lives Bazaar will make you live your 70's dreams 🙌🏼
They're honest with what they are moving towards (using more recycled fabrics) and where their clothing is made. For example, they've started working with a swimwear factory in Bali that solely works with recycled fabrics made from discarded fishing nets and discarded plastics. This factory also has great working conditions.
6. Thrills
Suss out their ethical info ✨here✨.
Thrills' Design Manager Mike Fishwick explained that “sustainability isn’t just a hollow tagline for us. It’s about recognising our responsibility, being honest, and taking substantial actions to reduce the negative impacts on our planet.”
Whilst Thrills still has a lot more growing to do in terms of ethical fashion, they're conscientious about their energy consumption, waste management, sustainable fabrication, and supply chain.
7. Spell and the Gypsy
Suss out their ethical info ✨here✨.
Spell and the Gypsy were awarded the 2019 Banksia Sustainability Award in the small business category and wowee do they deserve it. Their pillars are supply chain transparency, social advocacy, dyes and printing, footprint, sustainable fibres, circular fashion and giving back... Too many good things can be said about Spell, not to mention how glorious their boho clothes are!!
8. Wiilds
Suss out their ethical info ✨here✨.
I'm here for small Aussie businesses choosing sustainability from the get go and that is what this surf brand hailing from Wollongong is doing! They're using organic cotton and are working with suppliers that are certified GOTS (global organic textile standard).
9. Salté Designs
Suss out their ethical info ✨here✨.
Salté Designs' discourages ‘fast fashion’ by focusing on small production runs of well-made, lasting pieces to encourage women to buy quality rather than quantity. They use compostable garment bags and mailing satchels and support small suppliers... The list goes on! Their swimwear is now made from recycled plastic as well!
(Also, if you froth their swimmers, suss out Inner Relm, an ethical swimwear brand with similar funky vibes).
10. Auguste The Label
Suss out their ethical info ✨here✨.
You will be overwhelmed by how much Auguste is doing for the planet. From donating and taking charge of initiatives like One Tree Planted and Koala Hospital Adoptions (to name a few), to using seven types of organic fabrics for their clothing, Auguste is trustworthy and inspiring. Not to mention, their clothing items are timeless and fuuunky.
