Manufacturing facts
- Kuwaii is accredited by Ethical Clothing Australia for all of our made in Melbourne clothing. The majority of our product range is Made in Melbourne, and accredited by Ethical Clothing Australia.
- We have four clothing manufacturers based in Melbourne and these are all ethically accredited, and they produce the bulk of all Kuwaii items, with 97% of our clothing range being produced in Melbourne.
- We produce 3% of our clothing range in China - which is our knitwear. You can read more information about our knitwear suppliers below
- We also source AS Colour tee shirts and sweaters. These are made offshore but ethically printed and embroidered in Melbourne. You can read AS Colour's sustainability information here: https://www.ascolour.com.au/social-responsibility
- Look for the “Made in Melbourne” on our back neck garment labels or on each product description for more information.
- We have two footwear makers - one is based in Abbotsford and the other is in China. 35% of Kuwaii footwear is made in Melbourne, 65% is made in China.
- We purchase our fabrics from 12 Australian & NZ fabric agents, with most of our fabric produced in China, Korea and Japan.
- We incorporate deadstock fabric and our own fabric remnants into our garments.
- We produce an average of 8000 garments per year and 600 pairs of footwear, in contrast to Zara, which produces around 450 million items a year.
Our approach
Kuwaii’s ethically accredited slow fashion approach contrasts with fast fashion’s environmental and ethical havoc. It ensures we build robust, respectful and loyal relationships with our makers. Our entire product range is built on an ever-evolving basis of ‘Classics’: timeless, well-made, eternally flattering and wearable pieces. We minimise waste during production and excess stock at the end of each season by producing small runs in limited editions.
Our accrediting body Ethical Clothing Australia is committed to collaborating with local clothing businesses, ensuring the protection and promotion of the rights of Australian garment workers. To secure ECA accreditation, we underwent a thorough audit of our operations, spanning from design to dispatch. This comprehensive review ensures that all our workers, including outworkers, are fairly compensated, receive their legal entitlements, and work in safe conditions.
When you shop with us, you can be assured that majority of our clothing pieces are locally made in Melbourne and hold the prestigious ECA ethical accreditation.