Our Fabrics
We know that the fabrics we use, and how we source them, has huge environmental and ethical implications. We chose each material we use with intention and care, carefully considering what they are made from and the environmental impacts of their production, but importantly we also consider the fabric’s overall life: how durable it is, how long it will last, how easy it will be to care for, and the overall quality of each particular material. We carefully and rigorously wash and wear test our fabrics, so that we can be sure that they are set to stand the test of time. We are pushing each season to discover more recycled, organic and sustainable fabrics and to constantly improve our fabrics choices for our customers, and our goal is by 2025 we will be able to source 100% of our fabrics from entirely natural, traceable sources with minimal environmental impact. Each season, we use production surplus fabrics in our ranges, which means that we are repurposing the textile waste generated from larger fashion brands that would otherwise go to landfill. We proudly launched our first collection made entirely from sustainable fibres in 2018. We also ensure that we purchase our fabrics through Australian textile agents which allows us to support local businesses as well as the fashion industry here in Australia.
Kuwaii garments are meant to stay away from landfill. We believe that well made clothing, in timeless designs, that are worn properly and cared for properly, should have a very long lasting useful life. We also believe in re-purposing garments once their useful life is over – such as our weaving collaboration with Maryanne Moodie where she turned our fabric scraps into woven art.
However at that time when your much-loved Kuwaii piece is totally worn out, we believe in, and are working towards, a closed loop system. What this means is that after the active life of the garment is over, and it can no longer be re-used or re-purposed, it would get broken down through an environmentally friendly process such as composting or biodegrading.
Keep reading to find a comprehensive guide on every fabric that we use, and the pros and cons of each one.