We are excited to have so many makers in our midst, who have sustainability at the forefront of all they do. Their number one goal is reducing their business’ environmental footprint while creating amazing, high quality products to help make sustainable shopping easier for you!
Items destined for landfill are given a magical makeover and repurposed into something you will love and cherish for years to come. Every stitch and design choice made by these makers is a journey toward an eco-friendly revolution! When you make a purchase from a designer or producer within the Handmade community, you’re not just shopping; you’re part of an Australian-made movement.
Homewares making the old new again
Alma Terra Pottery employs sustainable practices all through the making process, using recycled and biodegradable products, and Australian raw materials wherever possible. Water utilized through the making process in the studio is recaptured and used to water the surrounding garden. Solar panels capture the sun’s energy enabling the studio’s kiln to fire the ceramics with renewable energy.
Hausfits Designs is a Melbourne-based furniture designer working with recycled timbers and sustainable materials. Jane works from her home studio, making each piece by hand in small-batch quantities. With longevity in mind, she supports the environment by reducing landfill, creating with recycled materials, supporting sustainability, and collaborating with local makers.
Put a lid on it make beautiful and practical large size containers with fitted lids. They are Australian made with recycled plastic. They make storing, preparing and presenting food easy without the waste. They can be used at home when preparing the family dinner, and when picnicking with friends in the park.
Fashion with a Zero Waste Ethos
Lauren Clark Handmade sources 100% sustainable linen fabric to create small batch clothing and home items with a focus on classic, simple pieces that will give joy and last a lifetime. Lauren reduces waste by using fabric offcuts to make beautiful treasures such as unique colour-block boxy tops. Sustainability is carefully considered throughout the whole process, which is why Lauren designs and makes everything by hand in her home studio in the Macedon Ranges in Victoria.
Robyn from Woven by Society uses her experience as a designer to create slow fashion designed to last a lifetime. By using simple designs, her products showcase the incredible fabric. Robyn offers a range of items, all handmade in Melbourne. The collections include ready to wear essentials and premiums, limited editions, no waste clothing as well as custom made items.
Bubbles For Poppet originated out of the love for creating beautiful clothes for babies. Only the finest fabrics make it to their products and they source directly from the craftsman to ensure fair trade as well as promoting arts. They are also very strong advocates of sustainability and work on keeping their business to a zero waste, by reusing and recycling all of their fabric scraps. They make beautiful pieces for precious little ones!
Jewellers with a focus on upcycling
The work of Glass Artist Samantha Abbott has become a global passion for collectors and retailers alike. Each pair tells a story, becoming whimsical companions for your adventures. Samantha hand crafts her pieces using various techniques such as lamp working and fusing. Her pioneering approach to sustainable fashion emphasizes the use of post-consumer glass, allowing her to create stunning eco-friendly pieces, presented on compostable tags.
Meekz Contemporary Jewellery is an environmentally sustainable design label that transforms the everyday into something unique and beautiful. Silversmith Jemica Ostrofski draws inspiration from the urban environment and minimalist geometric form. Adopting ethically responsible and environmentally friendly practices, all Meekz collections are made using recycled, reclaimed and repurposed material, breathing life back into forgotten treasures.
Created by Culture is an eco-friendly jewellery brand that creates stunning pieces out of recycled glass. They collect discarded bottles and glass in Ghana, which they clean, melt, and mould into beautiful upcycled treasures in their Sydney studio. It feels great to support sustainable businesses, and to look good while doing it!
If sustainable shopping is important to you, a browse through our Australian Made Directory will certainly help you find more eco-friendly makers to fall in love with. Our blog post on Sustainable Fashion designers may also be of interest.
