JB RESPONSIBLE PILLARS

At Jillian Boustred, we are committed to becoming the most responsible version of ourselves. A spirit of responsibility, sustainability and ethics is finally arriving in the fashion industry and we want to ensure that we are part of the solution – working with suppliers, makers and other entities to help build a brighter future. 

Our Responsible Future Pillars are shaped by environmental, social and economic values and we use these parameters daily to evaluate all JB decisions in relation to their impact in an effort to balance purpose, people, planet and profit. Looking at our business holistically, we are striving towards processes, practices and environmental choices that have responsible intentions. We can’t always tick every box for every single decision, but we use our Responsible Future Pillars to hold ourselves accountable to our vision for a future of fashion that is considered and consistently taking steps towards meaningful change.

transparency TRANSPARENCY

At the core of our brand ethos, we are committed to being truly transparent. While we might not always be in a position to choose the highest level of responsible action in sourcing or designing, we can promise to communicate honestly and clearly about all of our products and processes so that our customers can make informed decisions in line with their personal values. 

To meet this pillar, a garment will have a Garment Story as part of the product page.

material selection MATERIAL SELECTION

We have developed an in-house fabric selection matrix to aid our design team in the making of responsible decisions that works on a sliding scale from Most Responsible - Responsible - Standard - Phasing out. We use this to evaluate fabrics and seek more responsible or impactful solutions at each design stage.

We prioritise recycled and organic fibres wherever possible, and have a “choose natural, choose monofibre and unblended first” approach to sourcing fabrics and accessories as these have the most promising future for recyclability. Materials that don’t meet these requirements will have been chosen for availability, functionality and longevity purposes. Our material selection education and processes are ever-evolving. 

This pillar works on a sliding scale and garments are given a rating. 

ethical manufacturing ETHICAL MANUFACTURING

We aim to work with all suppliers in a climate of trust and don’t believe that profit comes from taking advantage of one another. We don’t engage in negotiations on the price of labour and we pay every one of our talented makers what they are worth. Our seasonal collections matched with our made-to-order Wedding Edit styles ensures that our makers are always supplied with means to make an income, and the close proximity of the JB HQ to each maker for our woven garments keeps our travel footprint low. 

To meet this pillar, a supplier has signed our JB Supplier Code of Conduct.

made in australia MADE IN AUSTRALIA

Founded on a locally made ethos, we pride ourselves on our Australian Made woven collections. There are many positive impacts associated with local manufacturing, including lowered carbon footprint, high quality workplace health and safety management, and providing jobs and income to our local economy. 

To meet this pillar, this garment has been cut and constructed in Australia.

circular solutions CIRCULAR SOLUTIONS

Implementing circular solutions are at the forefront of design decisions at JB. We are committed to sourcing responsible fibres that have the potential for future recycling wherever possible. Our repair and take back service helps us close the loop and take responsibility for the full life-cycle of our garments, including responsible disposal or upcycle at end of life. 

To meet this pillar, this garment will be eligible for our take back program.

waste management WASTE MANAGEMENT

Waste is a huge issue in the fashion industry. Being Australian Made means that we are able to keep our production runs small and repeat styles that sell out, rather than over producing and being left with excess stock. Our scrap fabrics and off-cuts are saved by our cutter and upcycled in house or kept for industry recycling initiatives. Our knitted garments are constructed to shape, ensuring that there is minimal yarn wasted.

To meet this pillar, the off-cuts from the production of this garment have been upcycled, are being stored for industry recycling initiatives, or low waste knitting techniques have been used in production.

plastic free PLASTIC FREE PRACTICES

Polyester, nylon, acrylic, and other synthetic fibres — all of which are forms of plastic — are now about 60 percent of the material that makes up our clothes worldwide. Plastic made today will continue to exist on this planet for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Minimising single-use plastic and synthetic fibres is a  meaningful step towards a more responsible future as a brand. It is of the utmost importance to manage this aspect of our waste in our studio practices and any aspect of the manufacturing process that is within our control to ensure our production footprint is as light as possible. 

To meet this pillar, a garment will be at least 90% free from synthetic plastic based fibres and single-use plastic free from garment cutting to customer purchase and delivery.