Our Manufacturing
We partner with local artisans and small businesses here in Bali, Indonesia and try to choose production methods that have the least impact. We produce in small batches to minimise surplus stock and wastage and usually only hold a limited number of each size, style and colour at any one time.
We believe in a fashion industry that respects people, planet and profit in equal measure. Please check out our instagram production highlight to learn about the faces behind our clothes. #fashionrevolution
Textile supplier
Our fabric is sourced from a local textile supplier who produces the fabric in West Java, Indonesia. Sourcing locally has a lower carbon footprint, provides employment to the local community and supports the local textile making industry.
Digital textile printing + Inks
We use digital printing technology to transfer our designs onto fabric using eco-friendly water-based reactive inks that have been certified by the Oeko-Tex Standard 100. This means that the inks are low impact and do not contain harmful chemicals or substances. So it’s kinder on both the environment and your skin.
Digital printing uses less water than most traditional textile printing methods and therefore reduces the environmental impact of water pollution. It also allows us to layout our print design efficiently onto garment pieces so that we can print more precisely the amount of fabric we need, therefore reducing fabric usage and waste.
We work with a factory based in West Java, Indonesia who is committed to sustainable production and minimising its environmental footprint. It prints only on natural fibres using certified eco-friendly inks and runs a ‘Giving Back Program’ whereby every purchase contributes towards the planting of trees along the Citarum River of Bandung.
The Citarum River is the longest and largest river in West Java, Indonesia and is one of the most polluted rivers in the world. The river plays an important role in the life of people in West Java, as it supports many things including local agriculture, fishery and water supply. A 7-year government-run program is currently underway to clean up the river and restore its ecological balance.
Natural Plant Dyes
Natural dyeing is an age-old technique that uses natural sources, such as plants, minerals and insects to extract colour. All our colours are created from 100% pure plant dyes without the creation of harmful waste and toxic chemicals.
We work with a local dye workshop in the east of Bali, Indonesia. Their artisans hand dye each piece of clothing for us. They use only locally grown plants to create their dyes, such as indigo, ketapang, mahogany and mango. The process involves collecting and cutting the leaves, drying them and then boiling them in water to extract the natural colour. All leaf and water waste is returned to the earth as organic fertiliser.
We love our plant dyed clothing because they have been created in harmony with mother nature and are non-toxic, non-allergenic and gentle on your skin. Colour variations can occur with plant dyes but this is all part of the natural dye process and makes each hand dyed piece unique.
Garment Production
We work with garment factories in Bali, Indonesia where employees are paid a living wage, are treated fairly and respectfully and are working in safe conditions.
Our KIKU collection was sewn by Ibu Gusti and her husband Pak Gusti who sew from their own home. They have been working with one of our garment factories for over 10 years and are part of a cottage industry of sewers here in Bali, Indonesia.
During the pandemic we switched to producing in small batches and started working with a small family owned factory where the sewing is all done in-house. This is Putu, he's part of the team of skilled sewers who have been working on our new Plant Dye collection.
Artisans
We work with a jewellery design studio in Bali, Indonesia who have a team of local artisans that specialise in traditional wax carving and jewellery making. One of their artisans handcrafted the KAFTAN logo in wax for us which was then used to cast the round white bronze KAFTAN tags.
Each piece in our KIKU collection has one of these polished white bronze tags sewn on the outside to symbolise that the garment has been handmade with love.