Responsible Business
As a brand, we acknowledge our responsibility to the environment and the people who make our clothes. Simply put; we care about the future of this planet and our communities current and future. 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 makers who expertly sew them, and the customers who flaunt the finished product. As designers and makers, 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 are committed to ensuring each step of our process aligns with our mission; to create clothing designed with purpose, using low impact materials with quality that lasts.
Thoughtful Practise
COR is committed to building long term relationships with like-minded suppliers and manufacturers who uphold the rights and wellbeing of the people who make our clothes and supply our materials.
Our collections are made in ethically run CMT (cut, make and trim) facilities that abide by fair work practices. Ethical manufacturing means that strict labour laws are enforced, meaning no forced labor, no child labour, living wages and overtime are paid.
Our linen, Eco Rayon and Tencel garments (such as cotton shirts, shorts, dresses) are made in Bali while our heavier weight woven garments (denim, trousers) and knitwear (track pants, jumpers) are made in India.
As 2024 comes to a close, we are exploring bringing some of our manufacturing processes to Australia. Since 2016 we have manufactured in Bali and India; supporting localised economies by working with our long term trusted partners. Our transition to Australian manufacture is very much in it's trial phase, as we negotiate the supply chain issues this change presents. As we test the water on this, we will be producing small runs of certain garments in our Northern Rivers studio, updates to follow.
We aim to produce only what we need. All prototypes are designed, pattern cut and sampled in our studio in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, Australia. Before any garments go to production they go through multiple review stages to ensure we get the fit right and quality right. Our design ethos is simple: we design for the future, not trends. Our focus is always on creating simple, comfortable garments that are made well and will last the test of time both in their aesthetic and quality of construction.
We choose to use a 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!
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.
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. Using less water than cotton production, linen 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 can be worn and mended in an ongoing way!
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.
MINDFUL PACKAGING
The final step for our garments is the addition of branded swing tags, made of embossed recycled paper and Forest Stewardship Council (FFC) card.
Our clothes are shipped to us in garment bags made from plant cellulose and orders are posted using biodegradable mailing sacks.
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.