Responsible Business
Our Ethos
As a brand, we acknowledge our responsibility to the environment and the people who make our clothes. As designers, we are bringing more into the world – a world that already has so much stuff. With this comes a huge responsibility, which is why we believe in clothing designed with purpose, created using low impact materials with quality that lasts.
Sustainability is at the Cor(e) of what we do (sorry, not sorry). Our mission is for our clothes to have a positive impact on others – from the farmers who grow our fibres, the mills where our fabric is woven, the garment makers who expertly sew them, and the customers who flaunt the finished product. As designers and makers, we’re committed to ensuring each step of our process aligns with that mission. Simply put, we care about the future of this planet.
Fabrics We Currently Use
We all love this breezy summer fabric, but did you know? Grown in the right conditions, the earth loves linen too. Linen comes from the flax plant and is grown on marginal land unsuitable for food crops. Linen uses less water than cotton production and is naturally toxin free, requiring no pesticides and little to zero fertiliser. Linen is strong, durable and made to last, making it ideal for timeless pieces that will outlive trends!
Rayon has a bad reputation (and rightly so), the forestry that provides the raw material is often doing huge damage to some of the worlds most pressured ecosystems and the chemicals used to process this timber have traditionally been extremely damaging to waterways and those that process the fibre. Eco Rayon is a safe alternative, made using less harsh chemicals that are reclaimed in a closed cycle process. The wood fibre is sourced from sustainably managed plantations.
The highly absorbent nature of cellulose fibre enables it to take dyes very well, bringing about rich and radiant colours without losing its natural lustre. To wear, it’s as soft and breathable as cotton and smooth as silk. Eco Rayon drapes beautifully, making it satisfying and comfortable to wear. Consisting of natural plant-based polymers, Eco Rayon is biodegradable and will naturally decompose into the soil at the end of its life.
Organic cotton produces up to 94% less greenhouse gas emissions than regular cotton. Hazardous pesticides aren't used and less energy and water are used. Organic cotton makes for better lives for farmers, better soil and a more sustainable future for farming.
We have recently added two stretch styles to our lineup, while these do contain elastane which is not biodegradable, we have kept this to a minimum (5%) to get the fit that is expected from stretchwear while minimising the synthetic components. At 5% elastane, a garment is still generally considered biodegradable, we are looking into better options for the future but so far have found our buying power as a small brand has meant we cannot access these.
Thoughtful Practise
We aim to produce only what we need. All design prototypes are drawn, cut, pinned, sewn and revised by hand from our studio in Brunswick Heads. Before our garments go to production they will go through multiple review stages to ensure we get the fit right.
We choose to use a sustainable digital printing process because it requires less energy and does not produce any wastewater or effluent. We use high-end biodegradable pigment inks, such as Eco Passport – the first of its kind on a commercial scale in Indonesia. OEKO-TEX certified inks are used in our dye lots to ensure harmful chemicals do not enter our waterways through runoff. These inks are also safer for the wearer, and prevent the absorption of harmful chemicals through our skin.
Digital printing enables us to produce the exact amount of fabric that is required for production. Digital printing technology uses less electricity, and the exact amount or ink required for each job, resulting in very little waste and very big results!
Before they’re ready to adorn the display racks, Cor garments are embellished with a branded swing tag, made of recycled paper.
Our clothes are shipped to us in garment bags made from plant cellulose and orders are posted using biodegradable mailing sacks.
When resisting fast fashion and throwaway culture, caring and repairing our clothes becomes a key part of sustainability. Whether it’s professional alterations or the more punk style of visible mending, we encourage you to embrace the radical act of repairing! We offer complimentary repairs on any existing garments faults, and if your Cor piece has been well lived in and has the battle scars to match we offer a repair service for a modest fee. Learn more on our Care & Repair page and get in touch for a quote.
We’re always committed to seeking out like-minded individuals and businesses that adhere to the same ethical standards and processes we do.
All our pieces are made in ethical cut, make, and trim facilities that abide by fair work practices. Our linen, Eco Rayon and Tencel garments are made in Bali and our organic cotton garments are made in India.
If you’re a wholesaler or individual with a focus for sustainable fashion, we’d love to connect!
For a few years now, Cor has been a regular face at local markets between Byron and Brisbane. We cherish being able to engage directly with our customers and showcase the quality of our products first hand.
Being part of the market community is not only a huge driver of creativity for us, it’s an opportunity to educate customers on how to care for garments and encourage slow fashion habits like alterations, repairs, and upcycling. To find out how you can prolong the life of your garment, visit our Care & Repair page.
Didn’t find what you’re looking for? We aim to operate with as much transparency as possible so if you’re curious about our sustainability practices or have suggestions on how we can do better, please get in touch.
