Ethical Clothing Australia accredits 27 new brands

The organisation has been encouraged by the number of businesses seeking accreditation, despite of the current difficult retail climate, and is seeing a diverse range of applications; from emerging designer such as So Stella, through to iconic brands like Akubra. This takes the total number of ethically accredited businesses to a record of 75.

The recent boost in the number of businesses applying for accreditation is due to several reasons, one of which is increased consumer awareness of ethical manufacturing and interest in supporting businesses that make their clothing and footwear ethically.

Research conducted by the Mobium Group in 2009 has also shown that there is a growing market for consumers who want sustainable and ethically produced products, and that the Australian market was worth $19 billion in 2009 and $27 billion in 2011.

Interestingly, and as a comparison, the food industry has also experienced an increase in consumer interest for ethically produced goods. Fairtrade recently reported that Australian consumers’ support of Fairtrade Certified products continues to grow, with sales rising almost 40% in 2011 on products such as coffee, chocolate and tea, as well as cotton. This represents more than triple the global increase amount of 12% for the same period.

Initiatives such as Ethical Clothing Australia’s consumer awareness campaign, Meet Your Maker, help drive consumer demand for ethically made products. This interest from the textile clothing and footwear in proving their ethical credentials will serve to support and grow the market for locally and ethically made clothing and footwear more broadly.

With newly accredited business representing maternity and baby wear, women’s fashion, footwear, outdoor clothing and school uniforms, consumers who are looking for ethical alternatives for their clothing and footwear now have even more to choose from.

Ethical Clothing Australia