• Our Approach 1/6
  • Manufacturing 2/6
  • Materials 3/6
  • Commitments 4/6
  • Code of Conduct 5/6
  • The Future 6/6

Our Approach

Our Approach 1/6

As a brand we recognise and understand our responsibility to make decisions with people and environment at the forefront. Our core values are underpinned by creating quality and timeless pieces that stand the test of time, designing with longevity in mind, using considered materials that are gentle on the environment. We have made a commitment to continue to refine and rebuild by developing the best practices in everything that we do, honouring that it is something to be revisited frequently. We strive to be transparent and honest in communicating our journey and provide our customers with facts, to share knowledge on where we stand and where we want to be. We promise to continue learning and keep revisiting the question, ‘how can we do better?’.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing 2/6

“It isn’t enough just looking for quality in the products we buy, we must [also] ensure that there is quality in the lives of the people who make them. - Orsola de Castro”

It is a priority for our team to ensure ethical working conditions across all touch points of the business, meeting industry certifications and agreeing to our Code of Conduct. When possible, we visit our factories to ensure these standards are being met, with the intention to build conscious and responsible practices, committing to a safe and healthy environment and educating our stakeholders on the importance of this. Our suppliers hold a number of internationally recognised certifications, we make it a priority for our key suppliers to continue certifications (SA800, SMETA, BSCI, Ethical clothing Australia) into the future. We want to create bonds that lead to mutual progress and empowerment and it is our priority to ensure that any new manufacturing partners hold the above certifications and prioritise environmental and social responsibility.

We carefully consider both the environmental and social impacts our business has on the world we live in. Our pieces are designed to become permanent fixtures in your wardrobe, made to last while valuing the fair treatment of people that create them. As a brand we hold a social responsibility to promote slower consumption habits. We carefully analyse the demand of our product, only ordering to meet this supply to keep our stock levels at a minimum. We endeavour to achieve full traceability across our supply chain from start to finish. It is a priority for our team to ensure ethical working conditions across all touch points of the business, meeting industry certifications and agreeing to our Code of Conduct. When possible, we visit our factories to ensure these standards are being met, with the intention to build conscious and responsible practices, committing to a safe and healthy environment and educating.

Our stakeholders on the importance of this. Our suppliers hold a number of internationally recognised certifications, we make it a priority for our key suppliers to continue certifications (SA800, SMETA, BSCI, Ethical clothing Australia) into the future. To aid and encourage this progress we have committed to financially support each supplier with 50% of the costs involved, to bring new and certified factories into the manufacturing industry. The approach of education and development, rather than abandoning our current manufacturers is what we believe to be part of our global responsibility. We are able to work with each manufacturer closely, putting the relationships we form at the centre of our business. Our dedicated time and resources are part of a long-term commitment that we will continue to implement as we grow alongside our stakeholders.

Footwear & Accessory Partners +

Dongguan, China
240 employees
COC Signed
BSCI Factory
Gold LWG Leather

Ambur, India
58 Employees
COC signed
SA8000 (processing)
Silver LWG Leather

Denpasar, Bali
40 Employees
COC signed

Apparel Partners +

Zongshan City, China
49 employees
COC Signed
SMETA Certification

Dongguan City, China
110 employees
COC Signed
BSCI Certification

Melbourne Australia
COC Signed
Ethical Clothing Australia

Qingdao, China
COC Signed
BSCI Certification

Jiaxing Province, China
COC Signed
SMETA certification

Dongguan City, China
150 Employees
COC Signed
SMETA Certification





Accreditations

We are making a commitment to improve transparency on our supply chain, you can find specific information for each product on our product pages.

SA8000 Certification +

SA8000 certification is a management systems standard, based on ISO Standards. The criteria require that facilities seeking to gain and maintain certification must go beyond simple compliance to the standard. Prospective facilities must integrate it into their management practices and demonstrate ongoing compliance with the standard. SA8000 is based on the principles of international human rights norms as described in International Labour Organization conventions, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It measures the performance of companies in eight areas important to social accountability in the:

Workplace

Child labour

Forced labour

Health and safety

Discrimination

Disciplinary practices

Working hours and

compensation

Free association and collective bargaining

SMETA Certification +

SMETA is Sedex’s social auditing methodology that enables the assessment of supplier and manufacturing sites to understand working conditions in the supply chain as well as responsible business practices and overall social compliance. SMETA monitors supplier’s standards of labour, health and safety, environment and business ethics. Factory audits are conducted periodically as part of SMETA Certification, and the living wage is a component of consideration when receiving this certification. Living wage is also outlined within our code of conduct, which all suppliers agree to and sign.

BSCI Certification +

The Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI) is an auditing program aimed at improving workplace conditions in accordance with human rights, ILO conventions and national labour law. The BSCI framework is based on 11 principles ranging from fair remuneration to ensuring no child labour practices. BSCI provides audit reports detailing 13 performance areas with an overall rating allowing a comprehensive means for follow-up and improvement. We gather yearly audit reports to ensure improvements are being made. The BSCI participants and their business partners commit to implementing the 11 principles within their supply chains in a step-by-step development approach.

Protection of the environment

Fair remuneration

Occupational health and safety

Special protection of young workers

No bonded labour

Ethical business behaviour

No discrimination

Decent working hours

No child labour

No precarious employment

The rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining

Ethical Clothing Australia +

Ethical Clothing Australia (ECA) is an accreditation body. ECA work collaboratively with local textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) businesses to protect and uphold the rights of Australian garment workers. To be ECA accredited, a business’s manufacturing operations are audited including head office(s), any in-house manufacturing operations and all outsourced locations in Australia to ensure that local TCF workers, including outworkers, are being paid appropriately, receiving all their legal entitlements and working in safe conditions. ECA’s audit covers workers in design, pattern making, cut, make, trim, value-adding, dispatch and associated area and outworkers throughout the supply chain.



Materials

Materials 3/6

Materials 3/6

Fabrication sourcing and the provenance of our textiles is of utmost importance to us. We carefully consider the impact on the environment and select natural materials that are easily broken down, avoiding the use of synthetics where possible, only using them when the integrity of the garment requires it.

We are making a commitment to improve traceability on the fabrics we use, prioritising yarns that are not only natural but hold a recognised certification, and also ensuring the mill the yarn is woven in has a social accountability certification. Our goal is to provide as much of this information on our product pages as possible so our customers can have full transparency.



Materials

TENCEL TM Lyocell +

TENCEL TM Lyocell is a lyocell rayon fibre, created by converting dissolved wood pulp into versatile fibres using a low-toxicity solvent. During this process, 99.5% of the chemicals are reused in a closed-loop system. TENCEL TM lyocell is durable without feeling heavy – it has a gentle feel that moves with the body. Derived from nature, all TENCEL TM standard lyocell fibre types have been certified as biodegradable and compostable under industrial, home, soil and marine conditions, thus they can fully revert back to nature.

Cotton +

Cotton is a natural fibre that grows on a plant, it has great properties for making clothing and is naturally biodegradable. The term ‘organic’ is currently not regulated in Australia, however, ‘certified organic’ is a regulated term in Australian labelling regulations. As we continue to grow, we strive to use organic cotton where possible and endeavour to formally certify this as ‘certified organic cotton’. As we are a small label that produces limited quantities of pieces, it can become difficult to reach the quantities required to obtain certification.

Organic Cotton +

Organic cotton is grown without the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers and requires less irrigation as it relies mainly on rainwater. Certified by Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), widely recognised as the gold standard of sustainable processing for clothing and textiles.

BCI Cotton +

Highly durable, cotton features in a number of pieces throughout our collections, both alone and blended with other fabrics. Showcased across various styles, fits and colourways, the true versatility of this natural fabric is demonstrated. Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), is a concept to grow cotton with judicious use of water, chemical fertilizers and pesticides, to reduce the environmental footprint of cotton farming.

Linen +

Linen is an environmentally conscious fibre made from the flax plant. A gentle crop that helps deter weeds from the plants around it. Flax is typically grown without the use of harsh use of herbicides or pesticides, and compared to cotton or polyester, requires less water and energy to produce. Linen transitions easily from season to season and gets softer with each wear and wash.

Leather +

The majority of our footwear and accessories are made with leather sourced through meddled LWG (Leather Working Group) suppliers. We use processes such as hand-dyeing leather, using Italian vegetable dyes, whereby leather is treated with entirely natural and organic tannins that are extracted from vegetables or trees and infused into the grain of the hide. We require our manufacturers to agree to and sign our Animal Welfare Policy that specifies the fair treatment of animals.

Silk +

Timeless and elegant, silk is a beautiful natural fibre that has been produced for thousands of years. It is completely biodegradable and has a very low environmental impact. We make it a priority to choose silks that have been responsibly dyed by a OEKO- TEX Standard 100 certified supplier.

Hemp +

Considered to be one of the most environmentally friendly fabrics, hemp is naturally resistant to pests, requires relatively little water and grows quickly. The hemp replenishes the soil for the crops around it.

RWS Wool +

Wool has long been accepted as an environmentally positive choice with a number of benefits, such as being 100% natural, renewable and biodegradable. RWS (Responsible Wool Standard) accredited wool features within our collection, an initiative monitoring the welfare of sheep and the land they graze on.

Yak +

Yak Fibre has been used for over a thousand years in particular parts of Asia and Mongolia to make luxurious textiles. Found at high altitudes, foraging on scrub rather than grazing, the Yak is a minimal land use animal and thus doesn’t contribute to deforestation.

Recycled Polyester +

Recycled polyester requires less energy resources to produce than virgin polyester. It’s made by melting down existing post consumer plastic waste and re-spinning it into new polyester fibers, diverting it from landfill. We love it’s durability and lightweight nature. Our recycled polyester is GRS (Global Recycle Standard) Certified.

Recycled Viscose +

We have decided to add recycled viscose into a small number of our pieces to create a textile that resists wrinkling, shrinking and is faster drying. The added durability of viscose means that this textile will last for years to come, making it a more responsible option in the long-run for those conscious of curating a capsule wardrobe that will last.

LENZING (TM) Lyocell Filament +

Lenzing Lyocell Filament is the long fiber of Lyocell, derived from renewable resources that are environmentally friendly and are made in a closed loop process. Blending with eco-responsible viscose, LENZING ECOVERO, allows this fabrication blend to take less from the environment throughout it’s eco-responsible production.

LENZING (TM) ECOVERO (TM) +

Eco-responsible viscose, LENZING ECOVERO, is a fabrication that takes less from the environment throughout it’s eco-responsible production when compared to its generic counterpart.

Cashmere +

Finer, lighter and softer, cashmere offers three times the insulation properties as sheeps’ wool. Obtained from cashmere goats and pashmina goats, cashmere is a superior wool that is synonymous with winter luxury.



Certifications

LWG Certification +

Leather Working Group rated tanneries must adhere to a strict protocol – focusing on energy and water usage, waste management and the control of harmful chemicals.

GOTS Certification +

The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the worldwide leading textile processing standard for organic fibres which takes into account every step in the supply chain. The standard aims to define worldwide recognised requirements that ensure the ecological status of textiles, from the harvesting of the raw materials, through environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing, up to labelling, to provide a credible assurance to the end consumer.

European Flax Certification +

The EUROPEAN FLAX® label certifies traceability at every step of processing - from flax seed right through to the finished garment. Certified European Flax® fibre is produced exclusively in France, Belgium, or the Netherlands. The EUROPEAN FLAX® Charter, signed by all the flax producers, guarantees local farming that respects the environment and commits to zero irrigation, zero GMO, and zero waste. Fibre extraction (scutching) is 100% mechanical meaning zero chemicals are used in the process. All work is done in compliance with the International Labour Organization (ILO). The ILO is devoted to promoting social justice and internationally recognised human and labour rights, pursuing its founding mission that social justice is essential to universal and lasting peace.

Lenzing Certification +

TENCEL (TM) Lyocell fibres have gained a commendable reputation for their environmentally responsible, closed loop production process, which transforms wood pulp into cellulosic fibres with high resource efficiency and low ecological impact. This solvent-spinning process recycles water and reuses the solvent at a recovery rate of more than 99%. This economically viable manufacturing process received the European Award for the environment from the European Commission in the category “The Technology Award for Sustainable Development”. TENCEL (TM) Lyocell fibres have been certified as bio-based by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Moreover, all Lenzing fibre production sites operate according to a certified Environmental Management and Occupational Health and Safety system (ISO14001, OHSAS 18001).

OKEO-TEX Certification +

The aim for OEKO-TEX® is to ensure safety from harmful chemicals from a consumer point of view. Many people don’t think enough about the fabrics they wear, and the horrific effect that harmful chemicals can have on the skin. Extensive product checks and regular company on-site visits ensure that the industry has a globally sustainable awareness of the responsible use of chemicals. With this concept, the OEKO-TEX® Standard has taken on a pioneering role for many years.

BCI Cotton Certification +

Licensed BCI Farmers produce cotton in a way that cares for the environment, minimising the negative effects of fertilisers and pesticides, and caring for water, soil health and natural habitats. This is what
we refer to as ‘Better Cotton’. BCI Farmers also commit to decent work principles – conditions that support workers’ safety and wellbeing.

RWS Certification +

The Responsible Wool Standard provides the industry with a tool to recognise best practices of farmers, ensuring wool comes from farms which have a progressive approach to managing their land, practice holistic respect for animal welfare of the sheep and respect the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare.

GRS Certification +

The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is an international, voluntary standard that sets requirements for third-party certification of recycled input and chain of custody. The goal of the standard is to increase the use of recycled materials. The GRS includes additional criteria for social and environmental processing requirements and chemical restrictions.

Organic Content Standard +

The Organic Content Standard (OCS) is an international, voluntary standard that sets requirements for third-party certification of certified organic input and chain of custody. The goal of the OCS is to increase organic agriculture production.





Commitments

Commitments 4/6



Packaging & Shipping

Packaging & Shipping

Each order packed by St. Agni is prepared and wrapped in recyclable and compostable materials, our garment bags are biodegradable, each used to transport our products, making our warehouse 90% plastic free as of 2021. As a brand, we promote a no waste policy, training our staff to recycle and repurpose urging employees to use their own reusable cups and bottles. We utilise sea freight for 4/5 of our stock deliveries and prioritise sea freight wherever possible. We have implemented a strong focus on stock consolidation, reducing the number of shipments we receive as a business, as well as utilising an international third-party logistics partner to reduce freight miles per item. All international wholesale orders are now shipped directly from our 3PL partner to international doors around the world. This process reduces each international wholesale shipment by an average of 10,000km, and in-turn reduces the carbon footprint of each item.

Social Giving

Social Giving

As a brand we continue to enhance our social responsibility by getting involved in philanthropic activities. We have partnered with organisations and charities and frequently revisit how we can give back to the community and those devastated by hardship. Some of our recent partnerships include Oxfam, UN Women, Worn for Good and Thread Together. Our commitment to social giving extends from donating product that exceeds 300 days in our warehouse, to giving financial aid to our partners.

Packaging & Shipping

Packaging & Shipping

Each order packed by St. Agni is prepared and wrapped in recyclable and compostable materials, our garment bags are biodegradable, each used to transport our products, making our warehouse 90% plastic free as of 2021. As a brand, we promote a no waste policy, training our staff to recycle and repurpose urging employees to use their own reusable cups and bottles. We utilise sea freight for 80% of our stock deliveries and offset our carbon footprint when utilising airfreight. We understand that each small action contributes to creating building blocks for change and is something we are dedicated to continuing.



Social Giving

Social Giving

As a brand we continue to enhance our social responsibility by getting involved in philanthropic activities. We have partnered with organisations and charities and frequently revisit how we can give back to the community and those devastated by hardship. Some of our recent partnerships include Oxfam, UN Women, Worn for Good and Thread Together. Our commitment to social giving extends from donating product that exceeds 300 days in our warehouse, to giving financial aid to our partners.



Supported Organisations and Causes

Worn For Good +

In 2020 we partnered with Worn for Good to promote circular fashion as a creative solution to tackling the issues of textile waste. In Australia, 6000kg of clothing is thrown out every 10 minutes, mostly ending up in landfill. Our partnership with Worn For Good allows us to engage our network and communicate a message of social and environmental justice in the ways we can positively impact the world. Our recent donation to WFG was in partnership with Children’s Ground, a project where funds of the donated product sales were used in response to the failings of the education system for First Nations children. Profits from the collection will help support the establishment of a school in Mpwerignke Anapipe, NT, which aims to change the future for First Nations children in Australia.

Thread Together +

St. Agni is proud to partner with Thread Together to clothe people in need, at no cost to them. St. Agni are committed to donating excess stock to Thread Together to assist in achieving their mission in cementing Thread Together as an effective solution for the textile waste problem in Australia. Thread Together is the only organisation in Australia whose main mission and focus is to source new and excess clothing from fashion retailers and redistribute items to those in our communities that need it most. Thread Together support people who are homeless, youth at risk, Indigenous communities, survivors of domestic violence, refugees and the long term unemployed. Thread Together support people in need of clothing to enable them to feel safe and warm, or people seeking clothing for a new job, they also work around the country supporting disaster relief, drought, fire and flood. Thread Together helps ensure those in need receive a tailored service, which reflects the current stage of their personal journey. For more information visit www.threadtogether.org

UN Women +

Annually, on International Women’s Day, we commit to donating 100% of sales to UN Women. To date, we have donated $18,314. UN Women is the entity from United Nations dedicated to gender equality and female empowerment. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress worldwide - setting global standards in achieving gender equality and continually works with government bodies and civil society to design laws, policies and programmes to ensure that standards are effectively implemented and benefit women and girls worldwide. UN Women also coordinates and promotes the UN system’s work in advancing gender equality, and in all deliberations and agreements linked to the 2030 Agenda. The entity works to position gender equality as fundamental to the Sustainable Development Goals, and a more inclusive world. UN Women works globally to make their vision a reality for women and girls, standing behind equal participation of females in all aspects of life. Focusing on four major areas:

Women lead, participate in and benefit equally from governance systems.

Women have income security, decent work and economic autonomy.

All women and girls live a life free from all forms of violence.

Women and girls contribute to and have greater influence in building sustainable peace and resilience and benefit equally from the prevention of natural disasters and conflicts and humanitarian action.
https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/about-un-women

Mettle Women +

Mettle Women Inc. (Mettle) is a national gift delivery service employing women who are experiencing homelessness due to domestic and family violence. They equip survivors of domestic and family violence with the skills, confidence, and financial security required to secure and maintain employment and in turn, safe and stable housing. We are proud to support Mettle Women, donating $1000 on International Woman’s Day 2021. For more information visit https://www.mettlegifts.com/

Oxfarm For Lombok Earthquake +

On 5 August 2018, a destructive and shallow earthquake struck the island of Lombok, Indonesia. The epicentre was located inland, near Loloan Village in North Lombok Regency. The fault rupture spread to the north and reached the sea, creating tsunamis. Severe shaking was reported throughout the entire island, while strong shaking was reported on the neighbouring islands of Bali and Sumbawa. Widespread damage was reported in Lombok and Bali. Officials stated that at least 80% of structures in North Lombok were damaged or destroyed. In the aftermath of the sequence of earthquakes in August, a total of 563 people were killed while more than 1,000 were injured. More than 417,000 people were displaced. Our very first manufacturer is located in Indonesia, we were proud to donate $7000 to Oxfam’s recovery efforts.

Red Cross Fire Relief +

The 2019–20 Australian bushfire season, colloquially known as Black Summer, was a period of unusually intense bushfires in many parts of Australia. We donated $17,242 to the Red Cross Fire Relief campaign, these funds were used towards rebuilding homes and supporting community recovery in the affected areas.

Environmental Progress

Environmental Progress

Minimising our footprint in the environment is an essential value to our company. Since the beginning of 2020 our HQ and Byron Bay studio are fully run-on solar energy. To offset our carbon footprint and emissions we have partnered with Carbon Positive Australia, an organisation that has restored almost 5,000 hectares of unused and degraded land across Australia. For every purchase made online a tree is planted to protect and restore the Australian landscape. We are proud to report we have planted 24,459 Native trees and shrubs to date.

Consumption

Consumption

We believe that fashion should be slow, and as a business we don’t want to over consume. We order to indent only and internally keep our stock levels at a minimum to ensure we don’t have waste. We use natural, good quality materials that will last the test of time. Most recently we have committed to implementing a buy-back program where we would see end-of-life product collected and recycled to form recycled fabrications for future use. This is an endeavour the entire team is excited to execute.



1% for the planet

From 2021 St. Agni has pledged at least 1% of sales, exclusively, to the preservation and restoration of the environment, as a member of 1% for the Planet. 1% for the Planet is an alliance of businesses that actively participate in protecting the natural world, formalising their commitment to environmental giving. For St. Agni, this partnership will form a portion of our social giving strategy, ensuring our giving is vetted and audited by a third-party. We have joined a global movement of businesses - over 2,000 organisations in more than 45

countries - committed to donating revenue, not just ‘profit’, to deliver good environmental outcomes. Although noteworthy, 1% for the Planet only forms a portion of our social giving strategy, as we continue to work directly with other organisations including UN Women, Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation, Worn for Good and Thread Together.





Code of Conduct

Code of Conduct 5/6

Our Supplier Code of Conduct outlines the minimum level of labour standards that are met by our team and all suppliers and manufacturing partners associated with St. Agni. We are committed to building strong supplier relationships based on compliance with this code of conduct, requiring all

suppliers to sign our code of conduct in writing. As we continue to work with leather, we require our manufacturers to agree to and sign our Animal Welfare Policy.

Read Full Code Of Conduct

View Our Animal Welfare Policy

Modern Slavery

St. Agni values the rights and dignity of our community above all. We stand behind the fair treatment of our suppliers and believe individuals should be free from slavery of any form. Modern slavery sees the severe exploitation of people for personal or commercial gain. We have made a commitment to ensure our business and supply chain uphold the standards outlined in our code of conduct abolishing the risks of modern slavery and reflect our core ethos and values. As a contributor of the fashion

industry, we acknowledge the impact our industry has had on modern slavery and will continue to connect to our people ensuring their fair treatment and respect, this statement is testament to our ongoing efforts to continue to create an environment that is free from forced labour, child labour or any behaviour that undermines the freedoms and rights of a human being. We are committed to upholding our suppliers to ensure this statement is upheld to the standards of our code of conduct and continue to operate in an ethically responsible manner.



Diversity & Inclusion

Our Diversity and Inclusion Policy is new, although as a business this is a part of our core values, we realise the importance of acting with this value at the forefront of our decision making, to consistently be asking ourselves – how can we do better? We are proud to be a brand that is made up of many walks of life, from different corners of the world working together with shared values and mutual respect. We are fortunate enough to be exposed to varieties of cultures in different stakeholders that

has broadened and deepened our knowledge on social responsibility. When granted opportunities to connect, expand and develop relationships outside of our internal team, the decision-making process is driven by individual’s alignment to the brand and our core values, we are on a journey together to be increasingly aware and knowledgeable on affirming the lives and humanity of the oppressed and discriminated. We understand this is an ongoing commitment and as a business we are listening and open to learning - we will continue to keep doing better.

View Our Diversity & Inclusion Policy





The Future

The Future 6/6

Future Goals

Traceability across all Tier 1 & Tier 2 suppliers.

Continue to use fabrics that have traceability and ethical certifications.

Continue to build our philanthropic giving, making a priority to donate to more environmental causes.

Introduce a circular system for our products, with elements that include reselling used garments that are still in wearable condition and recycling unwearable garments into new pieces.

We are very proud of our achievements, we understand this is a commitment that deserves to be frequently revisited, always allowing for improvement and feedback. We are open to the suggestions from our community and encourage our network to make their own responsible decisions where possible.