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Fashion is so much more than creating beautiful clothing and an engaging in-store experience – it’s also about the footprint we leave on the planet and the impact we have on all those who contribute to the creation of the KOOKAÏ collection.
KOOKAÏ is a family-owned and run business, based out of Melbourne, Australia. Since our beginnings in 1992, we have continued a pursuit of an ethical and meaningful existence in the fashion world. This mantra governs the way we conduct our business across all facets of KOOKAÏ. In 2018, we established our Ethics & Sustainability committee with representatives from our Executives, Supply Chain Management, Legal, Retail, Branding, Store Design and IT departments. The focus of the committee is to ensure we're keeping ethics and sustainability initiatives at the core of everything we do - from head office right through the supply chain and our retail boutiques.
While trends change, we don’t believe fashion should be disposable. Each of our garments are carefully constructed and designed to last and be well-loved essentials in our customers’ wardrobes. Our garments are built with a quality aesthetic that stands the test of time. We are on the journey of understanding and improving our environmental impact. We are consciously working towards incorporating sustainable materials and responsible production measures into our designs, and are committed to actively working together with our suppliers to identify and implement more environmentally sustainable solutions. KOOKAÏ is working towards achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
KOOKAÏ cares about how our garments are manufactured, by who, and the employees’ working environment. Working conditions and worker welfare is of paramount importance and is why we have chosen to own and operate our own manufacturing facilities in Fiji and Sri Lanka. Dissatisfied by the working conditions of some of the factories we had visited internationally, we made this decision to improve transparency in our supply chain and to ensure we have full control and visibility of the conditions of employment for our manufacturing employees, and the quality of products produced. KOOKAÏ is proud to have a vertically integrated manufacturing model, from design, to manufacture, to retail. Each of our garments starts its life in our Australian head office, where it's designed by our in-house design team, brought to life by our pattern makers and machinists, sampled and fitted. From here, our manufacturing teams in Fiji and Sri Lanka produce the majority of our collection, ready for delivery to our boutiques across Australia and New Zealand. Our Australian team is in constant communication with our manufacturing facilities, with representatives from our head office and our manufacturing facilities meeting regularly and visiting often to collaborate and provide training.The payment of a living wage to workers involved in the KOOKAÏ supply chain is enshrined in KOOKAÏ’s Code of Labour Conduct, which any suppliers to KOOKAÏ must adhere to. KOOKAÏ is committed to ensuring workers within its supply chain are paid a living wage, and is actively working with suppliers to achieve this goal. KOOKAÏ's supply chain is assessed by the Baptist World Australia Ethical Fashion Report's research team each year, and are currently graded an A-, ranking us amongst the top-rated Australian fashion brands for the ethics and sustainability of our supply chain.
Daniva Rd Valelevu, Nasinu,
Our Fiji manufacturing facilities employ just under 1,000 Fijian residents, including 78% female employees who produce the majority of the KOOKAÏ basics collection, as well as an executive and head office team.
Suduwella, Kaluaggala, Hanwella
Our Sri Lankan manufacturing facilities employ just under 730 Sri Lankan Residents, including 76% female employees who produce the majority of the KOOKAÏ fashion collection, as well as an executive and head office team.
Social compliance audits are performed regularly to ensure safe and hygienic work conditions, an engaged and motivated workforce, strong governance and accountability, and payment of fair wages. KOOKAÏ conducts social compliance audits via independent third parties at our own manufacturing facilities in addition to requiring audit documentation for third party suppliers through our supply chain. The audit results are monitored and KOOKAÏ works closely with both of its manufacturing facilities on any improvements that need to be made. KOOKAÏ values its relationship with its suppliers and is working with them to trace the ultimate source of raw materials used in KOOKAÏ products. The raw fabrics and textiles used for KOOKAÏ's basics range are sourced from ABMT Textiles, a global leader in natural fibre performance, lifestyle and fashion textiles. KOOKAÏ has a long-term relationship with ABMT, who are committed to quality, traceability, ethical and environmental responsibility. ABMT Pty Ltd 100-128 Ferris Road Melton VIC 3337 More information about ABMT can be found on their website.
Manufacturing workers, particularly those in the garment industry, were impacted significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. We've endorsed the International Labour Organization's COVID-19 Call to Action in the Global Garment Industry, which aims to generate global action to protect the health, employment and income of workers and establish systems of social protection in the global garment industry.Further, and in line with Baptist World Aid Australia's plea for Australian fashion brands to ensure the protection of these workers during this time, KOOKAÏ has upheld its commitment to mindful manufacturing, confirming its compliance with the following COVID Fashion Commitments.
Although our revenue was significantly impacted by our retail boutiques closing, we have continued to honour all orders placed with our suppliers (both our own manufacturing facilities and third party suppliers). When faced with delays in production or logistics, we have planned around these challenges in conjunction with our suppliers. We have liaised with our suppliers to extend payment terms out of necessity and are ensuring payments have been spread equally across suppliers with part payments made to ensure a flow of income to our suppliers. At all times we have maintained open communications with our suppliers, mutually operating in good faith, and building on the strong rapport and long-lasting relationships we've built with suppliers over time.
Due to forced closures, our manufacturing facilities in Fiji and Sri Lanka were required to stand down employees for a short period, and reduce the hours of work. To lessen the impact on these employees as much as possible, in Fiji we dedicated Head Office personnel time to assist employees to access government assistance. As our manufacturing facilities have been able to open on reduced hours and with reduced personnel, we have rostered employees to ensure all employees have had an equal opportunity to work and earn income. These rosters have been set by the production teams and verified by the HR department to ensure fairness. We have also used time available due to low production time to provide training to continue to support and upskill our employees. We have further supported them by providing access to counsellors during this difficult time, and this support has been well received and utilised.
We introduced additional support and targeted measures from consulting and listening to our manufacturing employees, including the implementation of measures to ensure their safe return to work following closures of our manufacturing facilities. We conducted Town Hall meetings where the employees heard directly from the factory CEO who spoke about the closures, the way forward and was available to answer any questions. In any situation knowledge is power, and our employees felt far more confident after receiving direct answers to their questions. Weekly meetings were introduced with our manufacturing facilities and our Melbourne-based Product and Supply Chain teams to check in on vital topics, such as COVID-19, what they're doing and how the employees are all feeling, production, forward planning, capacity, freight etc.
Rights and safety in our manufacturing facilities are supported by existing mechanisms we have in place for grievance reporting and occupational health and safety. We also introduced the following measures to ensure the furtherance of the protection of our employees: Our Fiji Manufacturing Facilities• Weekly meetings between our Manufacturing Team and our Product and Supply Chain Teams in Melbourne to check in on vital topics, including the status of COVID-19 in their region, what they're doing and how the employees are feeling, production, forward planning, capacity, and freight. • Following all government guidelines and protocols for heath and safety during COVID-19.• A COVID-19 policy to all employees to govern procedures and protocols around symptoms and prevention. Employees were addressed on these issues at a Town Hall meeting by the CEO. • Designated 'Face Mask Areas' in which the wearing of masks is compulsory. • Maintain 1.5m distance – no physical contact including handshakes • Santisation procedures at entry points to manufacturing facilities and offices. • Designated entry points • Visitors pass to be provided if necessary to have external visitors and semployees to provide ID cards to be allowed entry. • All employees to wash hands regularly.• All work trips and events cancelled until further notice.• Meetings to be conducted virtually wherever possible. Our Sri Lanka Manufacturing Facilities• Weekly meetings between our Manufacturing Team and our Product and Supply Chain Teams in Melbourne to check in on vital topics, including the status of COVID-19 in their region, what they're doing and how the employees are feeling, production, forward planning, capacity, and freight. • Following all government guidelines and protocols for heath and safety during COVID-19. • Notices displayed around manufacturing facilities providing education to all employees about COVID-19 symptoms, how it spreads, and prevention methods • All employees required to wear face masks • All vehicle fleet transporting employees to/from work are disinfected prior to commencement of morning travel and prior to afternoon drop off • All vehicle fleet to carry hand sanitiser • All employees have their temperature taken on arrival at manufacturing facilities/offices and recorded. Anyone with a temperature beyond set parameters is sent home or taken to hospital. Temperatures are also taken at the end of the day, as well as periodic checks by the HR Team and nursing staff • All employees enter through a disinfecting chamber to disinfect from any potential germs.• All employees remove their slippers worn outdoors and are provided with another pair to wear inside the facilities /offices.• Hand sanitisers are provided at entry to the facilities and on each production line • Operations commenced (after closure of the facilities) with 20% of employees, gradually increased to 50% and now back at 100% . • Government health authorities conduct unannounced visits and have been happy with all measures taken in the facilities • Consumption of meals to be in a spaced out sitting arrangement and partitions have been used for extra safety • Visitors restricted • Herbal drinks provided to employees in the evenings • All employees to bring their own cup and plate kept in individual lockers for their mealtimes.
In our Fiji manufacturing facilities, our Management Team dedicated time and resources to assisting our employees to apply for government financial assistance during COVID-19 and temporary shutout, as the application process proved difficult and complex. Providing counselling support to our employees during this difficult time, as well as medical support from on staff nurses and weekly doctor visits has also ensured better protection for our workers. We have good relationships with our neighbouring manufacturers, and liaise with them regularly to share information and knowledge.
We have seen some positive changes within our manufacturing facilities following the challenges brought by COVID-19. The employees have recognised the care their employer and KOOKAÏ Head Office have for their safety and well being. There has been reduced absenteeism and a positive attitude through recognising the way employees have been supported throughout this very challenging time. We will continue to maintain and build upon the strong relationships we have with our external suppliers. The hard work that has gone into building, maintaining and consolidating relationships with our suppliers over a long period of time, has allowed us to work closely with our suppliers to work through this difficult time together. There is a level of trust and understanding from the way we have worked together which is testament to the effectiveness of our current working practices which we will continue to build on.
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