These women-led brands are taking action to champion safe, supportive and ethical business
This International Women’s Day, we’ve proudly partnered with Ethical Clothing Australia to shine a light on five inspirational, women-led businesses who have the accreditation to back up their ethical business ethos. Here, they share the challenges and opportunities they’ve faced as well as future plans and advice for aspiring women in business.
photo STEPHANIE CAMMARANO FOR KUWAII
photo above left STEPHANIE CAMMARANO, above right KYLIE IVA
KRISTY BARBER | DESIGNER AND DIRECTOR, KUWAII
Can you tell us about Kuwaii?
Kuwaii is a Melbourne-based, slow fashion brand that has been offering a unique take on classic clothing and footwear since 2007. The driving forces of my brand are locally made, timeless styles to last season in and season out. They are pieces with a special detail, yet still simple enough for everyday wear. They fit immaculately and are specially designed so that people of all ages can wear them. I know there are many brands offering this concept now, but in 2007 it was really quite a radical approach, as at this time fast fashion was really starting to develop a stranglehold.
We opened our first Kuwaii store in Brunswick in October 2011 which kicked off our retail era, and we now have stores in Melbourne’s CBD, Fitzroy, as well as a bustling office and production space in Brunswick.
What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced?
If I am to answer this question particularly as a woman, I would say juggling the needs of a growing business and motherhood would have to be one of the biggest challenges I face every day. Of course we face challenges in our business every single day – I think one of my talents is ducking and weaving through the challenges while maintaining a positive approach!
What are some of your biggest achievements?
2023 was such a huge year of transitions for Kuwaii. We had much change in our team, we also undertook the project of Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation as well as developing and launching a new website. Every day we were facing pressure from the cost-of-living and cost-of-doing-business crisis that surrounds us, and undertaking a huge analysis of profitability and sustainability to ensure that we would be around for years to come. I fought so hard for my business last year, and to come out the other side feels like a huge achievement.
How do you hope to inspire other women who are thinking of starting their own business?
For women starting their own business, I would say the most important thing is to know your worth, be confident and set boundaries – and if you want to do it, just try it! For me, being successful has been a combination of luck, good timing, hard work, and never giving up.
What are you most excited about in the future?
I’m excited about the new era of Kuwaii. This year is about doing things easier, simplifying everything from our product range to our systems and timelines. Kuwaii is constantly evolving, and right now it’s evolving into a better place to work, both for me and our staff.
What does being Ethical Clothing Australia-accredited mean to you and your business?
We love being able to give our customers the knowledge that our manufacturing supply chain has been audited to meet Australia’s very high-level workplace laws. It has been wonderful to be able to share this news with our community.
photos PEARL BUTTON BRIDAL
DINAH MITCHELL | OWNER AND DESIGNER, PEARL BUTTON BRIDAL
Can you tell us about Pearl Button Bridal?
Pearl Button Bridal is an antidote to fast fashion bridal. I started the business 12 years ago to provide an alternative to the ‘polyester fiestas’ that are the majority of bridal outfits. I’m based in the country on the south coast of NSW near some wonderful landmarks – I can see Didthul Mountain and the sea from where I am. Silk is my fibre of choice, it comes in a wide array of fabrics and can be dyed beautifully if needed.
Making gowns slowly is important to me and I incorporate couture techniques into my gown construction, hand sewn hems, linings and appliqués. I encourage my clients to see their dress as something they can wear again (with modifications), eliminating the single-wear attitude that comes with most wedding dresses.
What are some of your biggest achievements?
12 years in business! Becoming more confident about what I’m trying to achieve and knowing when to say no to clients that are not a good fit.
What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced?
It’s a really challenging business to be in – I’m very time-poor. Last year I had great fun creating my pregnant daughter’s OTT dress.
What are you most excited about in the future?
My legacy dream is to create a meaningful place of employment in a regional area for young people interested in slow circular fashion.
How do you hope to inspire other women who are thinking of starting their own business?
I would like young women to take the plunge on their ideas, wherever they are. My advice is to link up with others and share the skill sets needed for business. A great support for me has been The Rural Woman network set up by Rebel Black.
What does being Ethical Clothing Australia-accredited mean to you and your business?
It’s really important to me to be accredited – my best-fit clients have come via Ethical Clothing Australia. They are young women who share the passion for ethically-made clothes with a focus on circular and sustainable fashion. I think a lot of good can be done for people and the planet with good design.
photos MELCO FABRICS
MELANIE COULTAS | FOUNDER, MELCO FABRICS
Can you tell us a bit about Melco Fabrics?
Melco Fabrics was founded in March 2021 with a mission to contribute positively to the slow fashion movement. I recognised that many issues in the textile industry, particularly exploitation, occurred early in the supply chain and often affected women. Therefore, I established our business on the Central Coast of NSW to produce ethical and sustainable fabrics, collaborating with an incredible team of independent female artists. We print all our fabrics, both woven and knitted, in-house and are committed to supporting fair wages and safe working conditions for all workers involved in our production process.
What have been some of the biggest challenges and achievements?
One of the biggest challenges has been educating customers about the significant differences between fast fashion fabrics and those created under ethical and sustainable conditions. However, overcoming this challenge has been rewarding, especially when Melco Fabrics was recognised as a leader in our field by winning the Central Coast NSW Local Business Awards in 2023 and being invited as a guest speaker in Sydney for Ethical Clothing Australia Week. These achievements were significant milestones for us and a testament to our commitment to ethical practices in the textile industry.
READ MORE– People, Place and Process: The Future Looks Bright for Fashion Down Under
As a female business owner, do you feel that this positively influences your approach?
Absolutely. Being a female-led business, with a team of female-identified staff, I understand firsthand the challenges of balancing work life, family, and personal well-being. This understanding has shaped our approach to offer flexible working conditions and create a ‘guilt-free’ environment for our employees. We value understanding, empathy, and flexibility, which I believe are essential qualities that positively influence our business culture and operations. Our motto, ‘You do you,’ encapsulates our approach to creating a supportive and inclusive workplace. I strive to accommodate the unique circumstances, responsibilities, and needs of each team member, ensuring no one feels penalised for attending to their personal life or family commitments. This philosophy is embedded in our daily operations and the culture we cultivate, ensuring every team member feels valued, understood, and empowered to be their authentic self.
We value understanding, empathy, and flexibility, which I believe are essential qualities that positively influence our business culture and operations. Our motto, ‘You do you,’ encapsulates our approach to creating a supportive and inclusive workplace.
How do you hope to inspire other women who are thinking of starting their own business?
My advice to anyone with a dream is to follow it unconditionally; never underestimate the power of belief and persistence. For me, Melco Fabrics and the sewing community have been more than just a business or a hobby; they have been a lifeline during a period of immense loss and heartache in 2019. When I founded Melco Fabrics in 2021, I was 38 weeks pregnant, my husband quickly learnt to never stand in the way of a pregnant woman and her ideas. This journey has been about creating something meaningful, not just for myself, but for a community that shares a passion for ethical and sustainable textiles. I hope to inspire other women by demonstrating that following your passion is rewarding, despite the challenges. At Melco, we’ve created a supportive, inclusive, and flexible work environment, showing that it’s possible to build a business that aligns with your values and supports the community. I encourage women to pursue their dreams and create spaces where they and others can thrive without compromising their personal well-being or values.
What are you most excited about in the future?
I am most excited about continuing to grow the Melco brand and further supporting the ethical and sustainable textile industry in Australia. Our commitment to slow fashion and ethical practices is not just a business model but a collective movement we hope to expand, impacting the industry positively and setting new standards for how business should be conducted.
We believe in wearing your values, not just on your sleeve, but as a declaration of who you are and what you stand for.
While I aspire to expand Melco Fabrics, my greater ambition is to cultivate a community that deeply values and comprehends the significance of slow, ethical textiles. I believe in the power of community to enact change, sharing knowledge and resources to create a more sustainable and equitable industry. Together, we thrive by embracing and promoting these principles, leading by example to inspire a broader movement towards ethical fashion. At Melco, it’s not just about growth; it’s about nurturing a collective ethos where everyone can share in the benefits and joys of ethical and sustainable fashion. We believe in wearing your values, not just on your sleeve, but as a declaration of who you are and what you stand for.
What does being Ethical Clothing Australia-accredited mean to you and your business?
Being accredited with Ethical Clothing Australia is incredibly important to me and my business. It’s a recognition that goes beyond just a label; it’s about integrity, transparency, and commitment to ethical practices. This accreditation reassures us and our customers that all workers involved in our production process are paid fairly and work in safe conditions. It helps us stand against greenwashing in the industry and ensures that we contribute positively to changing the landscape of fashion manufacturing.
photos FARM TO HANGER
ANNA-LOUISE HOWARD | OWNER, FARM TO HANGER
Can you tell us about Farm to Hanger?
Farm To Hanger is Australia’s only 100% traceable and compostable fashion brand, showcasing a net-zero carbon emission and non-polluting business model. The brand sets the standard for environmentally and ethically produced Australian garments, known for its absolute transparency, traceability, and dedication to sustainability.
We design with the end in mind, being circular at every stage. We source only traceable biodegradable materials and produce high-quality garments in a low-impact manufacturing environment. By caring about the materiality of everything we use, with the end purpose of being compostable, we’re not adding to landfill.
What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced, as well as achievements?
Having been told that what I wanted to do was not possible and then going on to achieve it has been a major milestone. It hasn’t been easy – even with perseverance, time, passion and a lot of hard work, it is also just as hard to maintain. Being 100% Australian made in a very competitive economic environment, and then training and leading a team of women who are just as passionate about what we do, has been very rewarding.
Training and leading a team of women who are just as passionate about what we do, has been very rewarding.
How do you hope to inspire other women who are thinking of starting their own business?
I hope to inspire women to think about addressing issues within society, as well as pollution, waste and lifecycle – to leave a legacy that inspires other women to create sustainable businesses of their own.
What are you most excited about in the future?
To take all of our beautiful, circular-designed garments and create a circular economy, turning them into soil or usable fibres; turning consumerism into a circular solution. That’s the future and my next project – the Textile Waste Recovery Network – and I am very excited about it, because we are never done with being more sustainable.
What does being Ethical Clothing Australia-accredited mean to you and your business?
I built our off-grid factory using recycled and certified materials to create a beautiful factory next to the forest – a low-impact prototype of conditions for people to work in harmony with the environment. Being ethically certified means that it provides a safe and supportive environment for our ladies to enjoy coming to work.
photos MELISSA GIBSON
MELISSA GIBSON | DIRECTOR, BUCKLE
Can you tell us about Buckle?
Heritage Accessories Pty Ltd, referred to as Buckle, is an Australian manufacturer specialising in leather belts and braces. Established in 1922, we proudly stand as one of the enduring entities within our industry. Originally a family-owned business, the company underwent a management buyout in 2013, transitioning ownership and management responsibilities to two directors, myself and Warren Sanders. Our dedicated team comprises 29 employees, with over 70% being female, reflecting our commitment to inclusivity.
What have been some of the biggest challenges and achievements as a woman in business?
Before joining Buckle (which I often refer to as “in my previous life”), I worked at Valvoline Australia, a male-dominated multinational company. While they were a great employer and made efforts to support gender equality, it was evident that the organisation was predominantly male. I transitioned to Buckle around 2007-2008, where I encountered unexpected gender biases despite the fashion sector being female-dominated. Nonetheless, through hard work and determination, I earned my place and was offered a directorship in 2013.
One memorable incident that reflects the challenges I faced was when an older gentleman questioned my authority, assuming that I held my position at Buckle due to familial connections. This assumption highlighted the persistent and regular stereotypes I encountered in the business world.
Since then, Buckle has experienced significant growth in both sales and relevance. We take pride in our support for the Australian-made initiative and our recognised contributions to the community. With an average staff retention rate of 17 years, predominantly comprised of female employees, I am deeply committed to empowering them and facilitating their professional development.
What are you most excited about in the future?
I hold a positive outlook for the future, fuelled not solely by financial growth, but by the meaningful contributions our business and team make to our community. We prioritise social responsibility and sustainability, all while championing the empowerment of women in our workforce.
What does being Ethical Clothing Australia-accredited mean to you and your business?
In particular, our accreditation with Ethical Clothing Australia underscores our dedication to ethical and sustainable standards. This accreditation not only validates our commitment but also inspires confidence in consumers who opt for our Australian-made products.
