Nobody Does It Like Nobody Denim
Take the ethos of a family-run, small business and apply it to one of Australia’s most sought-after cult denim brands, and you have Nobody Denim. Helmed by Jim Condilis and his sons, the family business is leading the way in creative thinking about how to reduce waste and increase sustainability.
Nobody Denim didn’t write the book on sustainable practices, but they did steal it from the library and leave their name scrawled in the front cover. That’s how they have carved out a place for themselves in the Australian fashion industry, and why they are the latest proud edition to Glue’s Future Choice range.
When it Comes to Sustainability, Trust Nobody
Support your local Australian manufacturer
While more iconic Australian brands than ever are moving their manufacturing overseas, Nobody Denim manufactures most of their products right here in their Melbourne factory. This allows them to generate jobs (over 80 of them) and benefits the local economy. They make a cracking case for shorter supply chains as the Nobody office, factory, laundry, and retail store are all within 6 kilometres of each other, reducing the carbon emissions required to transport products between locations.
On-shore manufacturing allows the business to react organically to local and international trends, placing them at the cutting edge of fashion. By defying the fast fashion model, they prove that slow fashion can lead the way – more effectively and sustainably – in a world of ever-changing trends.
When local manufacturing is unavailable for a particular product, Nobody Denim will rely on our close Pacific neighbours in Fiji and has ensured that their Fijian partner is integrated into the Nobody family. They are thus subject to the same standards of ethics and sustainability. Their partner has been investing in their local Fijian community by supporting sustainable farming and disaster relief, education, aged care and special needs education
Treat people the way you want to be treated
There is no such thing as sustainability without ethics. Nobody Denim ensures that all workers receive a fair wage and full entitlements and maintain a close relationship with the worker’s union. Workers also function in a good working environment, as approved under Australian Worksafe conditions.
Nobody’s key personnel are on the board of sustainable practices, meaning that they practise what they preach and bring an expert’s understanding of sustainability to the brand. Operations Manager, Gary Campbell is on the Ethical Clothing Australia board. Founder John Condilis has been Chair of the Australian Fashion Council for two years, fostering the sustainable growth of the Australian fashion and textiles industry. Nobody Denim proves that intellect and activism make for impeccable style.
The Social Studio is a non-for-profit that trains and upskills new migrants and refugees in the textile industry. To date, Nobody Denim has employed ten of their graduates and continues to support their work.
Bestowing customers with denim that is not only beautifully constructed, but ethical and sustainable, with transparency at the forefront is the heart of Nobody Denim’s process. This means that customers can wear their clothes empowered with the knowledge of where they have come from.
Be kind to the planet – we only have one!
Nobody Denim works alongside Sustainability Victoria to identify ways to reduce their environmental impact. Their stonewashing and bleaching process has allowed them to halve their water usage, and they continue to investigate new methods of saving water such as steam recapture.
In their factory alone, they have switched to LED lighting, and combined three machines into one, significantly saving electricity usage. They are investing in new sewing machine motors to make them more efficient as well as streamlining the assembly line to reduce physical space used and save energy.
Nobody Denim has committed to transparency by utilising FibreTrace technology in their garments. At the raw material source, a scannable, luminescent pigment is embedded into the material and recorded using blockchain technology, ensuring that you know not only where your clothes originated, but exactly what their fabric composition is.
Sourcing quality raw materials – the best ingredients for jeans
An emphasis on natural fibres and responsibly sourced raw materials leaves less of an imprint on the environment. The majority of fabrics used by the brand are OEKO-TEX Standard 100, meaning they exceed national and international chemical standards.
The use of natural enzymes in the washing and dyeing process reduce impact on the environment and waterways. They are biodegradable and safe for humans. In line with REACH standards, Nobody’s dyes exceed Australian standards of quality and safety.
Every little bit counts, and when you multiply one zipper on each garment by the number of jeans produced, that’s a lot. This is why Nobody Denim sources their zippers in Sydney, reducing the carbon miles to be transported between locations.
Better waste solutions
Nobody Denim is always looking for new and creative ways to reduce waste. By automating fabric cutting and removing the instance of human error, they have reduced fabric waste by 9%. New equipment has reduced the number of garments that become “seconds” due to minor imperfections by 30%.
In order to shift consumer attitudes towards the desirability of sustainable garments, you need to imbue them with clout. For Fashion Revolution Week in 2018, Nobody Denim made a capsule collection made from entirely repurposed materials in trending silhouettes.
Nothing goes to waste; fabric offcuts are material gold for fashion students so Nobody Denim donates their scraps, while garments are donated to the Darwin Aboriginal and Islander Women’s Shelter, and the Alice Springs Women’s Shelter.
Reducing waste is an ongoing crusade, and the brand continues to work towards a paperless head office and recycling all plastic waste.
Shop the new drop of Nobody Denim at Glue Store and get free shipping on orders over $50.