Sustainable fashion options in Australia are increasing, and with that the options for more shapes and sizes. And thank god, because we all know there’s no such thing as one size fits all when it comes to the female body. From staple shirts to stand out dresses, this list will help you put together a capsule closet of pieces you love and will wear over and over again. Best of all, you can embrace your body and find a style that suits you.
1. Citizen Wolf
Sydney’s Citizen Wolf is on a mission to revolutionise the way we think about staple clothing, to get us to invest in quality pieces that are literally made for us. The brand uses your magic fit – a fit made specifically to fit you based on your weight, height and date of birth – to cut your perfectly sized T-shirt out with laser technology. The tees are sewn together in Sydney where their manufacturing is certified by Ethical Clothing Australia. And if the fit isn’t spot on the first time, they’ll tweak it for you. Once you have your fit sorted, you can invest in a few of your favourite colours, cuts and fabrics.
Britt’s List readers can get $25 off their first custom t-shirt with code BRITTSLIST at checkout. Shop here.
2. dk active
Brisbane’s dk active makes high-quality, high-performance workout clothing for all activities. With a focus on sustainability, brand director Danielle Kay says she wanted to create a label that promoted inner wellbeing, self love and body positivity, without compromising on ethical manufacturing. For this reason, dk active sources sustainable textiles like its Luxury Italian Lycra (made from a blend of new and recycled materials) that have minimal impact on the environment. The dk active embrace range covers sizes 18-22. It’s all ethically manufactured in Brisbane, Australia.
3. Kowtow
Kowtow was born in 2007 with the desire to create an ethical label that would be the example for a fashion forward, global thinking business. And that it is. The New Zealand label is leading the way for ethical and sustainable fashion businesses, with a now internationally recognised label producing beautiful and timeless garments that are suitable for all occasions. Good on You app rates Kowtow five stars stating that its environmental, labour and animal rating are all ‘great’. Kowtow’s XL size covers a bust between 100-104cm, waist of 83-87cm and hips of 109-113cm.
4. Variety Hour
Helmed by textile designer Cassie Byrnes, Melbourne-based Variety Hour creates print-focused pieces produced in thoughtfully small batches. Each pattern starts as a painted artwork that’s distorted through different scales and reconfigured through an array of themes and palettes before it’s perfected and adapted into a range of timeless silhouettes and home goods made to complement a cheerful mood. It’s all ethically made in Melbourne, Australia. Variety Hour’s XL size covers an Australian size 16-18.
Variety Hour photos by Jessica Grilli
5. Woolerina
Australian owned and made Woolerina has your staples sorted for all seasons. The brand’s merino comes from non-mulesed sheep, that grow their fleeces in the best living conditions. Woolerina’s collection includes tops, bottoms, cardigans, dresses, skirts and accessories, available in an inclusive size range up to an 18. Woolerina’s garment manufacturing is certified by Ethical Clothing Australia.
6. ELK
Melbourne’s ELK entered the market in 2004 with quality leather goods and has since moved into well made womenswear. The brand produces just two bi-annual collections each year, typically showcasing natural hues and the use of fine quality raw materials. ELK adopts an unwavering commitment to working with small manufacturers across the globe whose traditional skills and techniques guarantee authentic, high quality execution of their collections. The brand offers often oversized womenswear up to a size 16.
7. Harlow
100% designed and made in Melbourne, Harlow offers a range of women’s clothing for sizes 12-26 aimed at the woman “who yearns to change the world”. The brand specialise in smaller runs, sometimes as little as 16 pieces being made in a particular style, fabric or colour. Harlow makes an effort to go against the “one season and it’s out” principle. Instead designing and manufacturing pieces that will be on high rotation in your wardrobe for years to come.
8. Kablooie
Handcrafted micro fashion label Kablooie is an explosion of colourful fashion for all sizes (specifically sizes 4-24). The prints are uniquely Queensland with tropical fruits, plants and vegetables, in styles that suit everyone (even the kiddies!). These colourful cotton garments are ethically made in Brisbane by designer and maker Keneena Fanning.
9. Grump
Queensland label Grump seeks out cute and quirky patterns for its collections of dresses, skirts and shirts for women sized 6-30 and beyond. If you’re a fan of natural fibres, you’ll love that the majority of garments are made from 100% cotton. It’s all ethically made in Australia.
10. Embody Women
Embody jeans are ethically made in Melbourne with a focus on inclusivity in shape and size. To reduce the brand’s environmental impact and avoid unethical processes, each Embody Denim garment is washed in an industrial family-run laundry and dye house in Sydney that complies with Australian rules and regulations when disposing of chemicals. The best part? The Embody jeans are available in an inclusive size range from 8-22.
11. Active Truth
This Brisbane-based brand started with the mission to make quality tights for 14+ and pregnant women. They’ve since extended the range to cater for all shapes, sizes and stages of life. Active Truth’s range of black tights, colourful printed tights, tops and maternity leggings are created in the size inclusive range of 8 – 26 to give all women a high performance activewear choice. All of the brand’s leggings are high-waisted to provide core support and are made from premium compression fabric. The vast majority of Active Truth garments are ethically made in Australia (in Brisbane!)
12. Full Bloom Lingerie
Finally some wire free bras for big bosoms. Full Bloom lingerie feels your pain, and has made some super sweet, super soft bralettes for ladies carrying D-G cups. The bralettes boast a sturdy elastic band to support the bust, have a 3 x 3 hook and eye to allow for size fluctuations, and adjustable straps that can be crossed over or kept straight to adjust support level. They’re all ethically handmade in Melbourne.
13. nisa
New Zealand’s Nisa is helping refugee women from the bottom up. The brand’s products are lovingly sewn by women from a refugee background in their sunny studio in Wellington, New Zealand, with a mission to provide their staff with meaningful and interesting paid work, while making kick-ass undies. Nisa’s underwear and bralette range spans XS – XXL but check your measurements on the site for specifics.
