Location
Australia
Made In
Australia
Values
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Circularity
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Fair
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Gender Equality
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Give Back
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Made Locally
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Transparent
days: the present time
of: expressing the relationship between a part and a whole
grace: unmerited favour, seemingly effortless beauty
Founded in 2021, days of grace is a Melbourne-based ethically and socially conscious fashion label “built on a love for beauty, social justice, creativity, healing and restoration.” The well-made, hand-crafted garments bearing the days of grace name – from the large array of beautiful dresses to the gorgeous selection of versatile tops – are a testament to this philosophy.
days of grace is their name, creating stylish, trans-seasonal garments (ethically) is their game.
All of the days of grace garments are crafted sustainably and ethically. Currently, days of grace employs one seamstress who brings all of the incredible designs to life. This seamstress works on her own property in a purpose-built facility, is provided with flexibility and a work/life balance, and is paid above the award wage. That’s what we love to hear.
days of grace is made-to-order.
The days of grace team has chosen a made-to-order mode of production, which essentially means that the garments are only created if and when they are ordered. By producing this way, days of grace is not only placing value on the exquisite garments, but is also reducing textile waste and overproduction by only creating what is necessary.
Great love, care, and attention to detail are put into made-to-order items, and the days of grace garments are no different.
Sustainable fabrics and trims are used for the days of grace garments.
Natural and deadstock fabrics are used to create the trans-seasonal and versatile days of grace pieces. Cotton, organic cotton, eucalyptus, silk and linen are the natural fabrics of choice, and deadstock fabrics – leftover, unwanted or unused fabrics sourced from other manufacturers and designers – are utilised, too.
These fabrics are supplied by Fabric Merchants, Wall Fabrics and The Fabric Store, and the trims are sourced from Australian businesses, including zips from LZF, buttons, hooks and eyes from MRecht, and strap sliders from Etsy. As for the packaging, days of grace makes use of 100% recyclable and biodegradable materials for the tissue paper, boxes and postcards, as well as compostable mailers from The Better Packaging Co.
If you can’t already tell, we’re a little obsessed with days of grace. This Australian ethical fashion company is small but mighty, and the team is ensuring that every part of the business – from the way in which the garments are made to the materials used to package them out to you, the conscious consumer – is as ethically and sustainably conscious as possible.
Want to know where Days Of Grace sits and what they’re working on in terms of these 5 values? Hover over these values to find out.
Eco Friendly
We have chosen to produce pieces/garments at days of grace using only deadstock and natural fabrics. We are working on sourcing and purchasing GOTS certified cotton, GOTS certified linen and peace silk for future collections. We design and produce our made-to-order pieces/garments locally which shortens our supply chain.
Fair
Presently, days of grace has employed one seamstress who produces all pieces/garments in collection one. Our seamstress works in a purpose built building which is located on the property where she resides. This provides her with flexibility in relation to work/life balance. We have met with her on a number of occasions and pay her above the award wage (TCFUA). We consider the environment and conditions in which she works to be safe.
Minimal Waste
All garments in our collections are, and will be, made-to-order. We have chosen this specific business model with the aim of reducing textile waste and to avoid over-production. We believe that by placing a value on the longevity and the quality of our made-to-order pieces, this can, in turn, offer an alternative to mass production and simultaneously play a role in moving towards a more sustainable and ethical fashion industry. In addition to the above, we intend on repurposing the left over fabric (after production)/fabric scraps into bags, ties and the like.
Give Back
As stated above, we are committed at days of grace to giving back to others and will be donating $1 from each sale to the organisation, Thread Together, until 01 January 2022. (Please note that this timeframe is going to be extended until December 2022).
Transparent
We have built relationships with all of our primary fabric suppliers. However, tracing our entire fabric supply chain is something that days of grace is working towards at this point in time. To date, we have found this to be challenging due to using deadstock fabrics. In relation to trims, we have purchased these from Australian businesses including LZF (zips), MRecht (buttons, hooks and eyes) and Etsy sellers (strap sliders). LZF manufacture their own zip brand in Australia. MRecht source from local and international suppliers. In relation to packaging and labels, we have sourced these from Australian owned businesses and Etsy suppliers including Print Together, GAA, MRecht and Ted and Toot.
Behind the Brand
“Due to a desire to create and the world's need for social justice, 'days of grace' was founded. It is built on a love for beauty, creativity, social justice, healing and restoration”.
What made you start your days of grace?
I have worked as a Social Worker for several years and currently work in the homelessness and housing sector supporting people to secure housing and maintain their tenancies. In 2016, I decided to pursue a creative dream and passion, moved interstate and completed a Bachelor of Fashion Design and Technology. Prior to this, I had decided that I wanted to take more risks in life and pursue the possibility of a different career path despite the potential unknowns in relation to this. Due to a desire to create and the world’s need for social justice, ‘days of grace’ was founded. It is built on a love for beauty, creativity, social justice, healing and restoration.
Do you have a morning routine? If so what is it you do to set yourself up for the day ahead?
I always walk to my local cafe in the morning for a coffee. It is something that I love doing to start the day and it also gives me an opportunity to reflect on life and the day ahead. I then have a quick breakfast at home before I start work in my part-time role as a social worker.
What’s the biggest barrier you’ve found to succeeding as a socially conscious business?
The start up costs of a small socially conscious business as well as navigating through manufacturing in Australia have both been challenging at times. It was, and is, important to me to support the manufacturing industry in Australia, despite encountering difficulties with finding a local manufacturer who was willing and able to work within a made-to-order business model. Surprisingly, until 2021, only four per cent of clothes sold in Australia were manufactured locally, according to United Nations trade data. Following conversations with local manufacturers and the exploration of other alternatives, it was exciting to find a machinist who was willing to support ‘days of grace’ and work within my business model. I think that working within this particular model ensures consistency of quality and longevity. In addition, textile waste is reduced.
Within the ethical fashion community, there’s a big question that we ask which is ‘who made my clothes?’. In the scope of days of grace, who made the things you sell? Can you tell us a bit about them?
I designed the ‘days of grace’ pieces and also made the patterns which were then graded by a local grader in Melbourne.
Each piece is cut and sewn by a machinest, Quyen. Quyen is a local Melbourne based seamstress who works in a customised production space. She is a sole trader who has worked in the fashion industry for a number of years and now supports some local and small brands. Quyen was excited to work with my brand as it aligned with her own values and desire to play a role in the creative industry and to work in an ethically conscious way.
Why did you pick the fabrics you have chosen to work with?
I have chosen to use natural fabrics which are also deadstock fabrics throughout the collection. The fabrics have been sourced from businesses based in Australia and/or New Zealand (Fabric Merchants, The Fabric Store and Wall Fabrics). I am aware that there can be issues with using deadstock fabrics in terms of traceability and intentional overproduction. However, deadstock fabrics can be sustainable. I think that it is one way of re-purposing waste.
For future collections I will be moving towards including GOTS certified organic linen, GOTS certified organic cotton as well as peace silk alongside deadstock fabrics.
Best piece of advice you have ever received?
It is not really advice but I love this perspective from Emily Maroutian: “You’re not behind in life. There’s no timetable that we will must follow. It’s made up. 7 billion people can’t do everything in the same order. What’s early? What’s late? Compared to who? Don’t beat yourself up for where you are. It’s YOUR schedule and everything is right on time.”
It has been challenging starting a business as a sole trader but I really believe that dreams are worth pursuing and taking risks in life is equally important.
What’s next for you and days of grace?
We intend on launching a second (and potentially a third) collection in 2022, which is exciting! We will also be focusing on building greater brand awareness and developing alliances with retailers who will stock a small selection of ‘days of grace’ pieces.
One long term goal is to become B Corp certified.
One book everyone should read? Why?
Although not related to fashion, I absolutely loved the book “Where the Crawdads Sing”. It is about a girl growing up in the swamplands of North Carolina after being abandoned by her family. It is a story of resilience, survival, hope, loss, and strength.
Are there any other Movers & Shakers out there in your world that you think people should know about?
There are numerous but A.BCH and Outland Denim would be two of them. I am inspired, especially as someone who has a passion for social justice, by Outland Denim’s pursuit of freedom, liberty and empowerment. I love how the brand started as an avenue for victims of sexual exploitation to engage in employment whilst at the same time rebuilding their lives.