We sat down with Frankie from The Dirt Company to hear about her business.
Here is what she had to say!
We sat down with Frankie from The Dirt Company to hear about her business.
Here is what she had to say!
How did The Dirt Company come to be?
The Dirt company came about through a lifetime of experiences which ultimately led to my motivation to make and deliver better products and experiences that are as sustainable as possible.
During a gap year I was working overseas as a stewardess on a boat and loving it.
One day, I walked to the back of the boat and saw our deckhand throwing bags of rubbish overboard. Shocked, I asked him what he was doing. Shocked back, he responded, where do you think our trash goes? This was 2007. It was perfectly legal, and normal to dump whatever you wanted so long as you were 12 nautical miles offshore. (This law was amended in 2013, it’s now illegal to dump certain types of waste, including plastic).
Fast forward a couple of years and I’m living with a friend who has sensitive skin and I’m looking for a laundry detergent for our house. I wanted to find a product that worked but was sensitive to her skin and the environment - the impossible brief.
I started to notice other things about the category too. Heaps of excess packaging. Very well disguised cost per wash. Very well hidden ingredients. The list went on. It was like the concept of sustainability had not yet hit the laundry aisle. I could do better. I just knew it.
From there Dirt took about two years to get off the ground and we still strive to make less harmful products the better choice for everyone.
Tell us a bit about the brand - What are the 3 main objectives of your brand?
What is your favourite product that you sell?
My favourite product we sell at the moment is our Advanced Wash detergent, it took a while to perfect but I think it’s a really great elevated version of our very beloved Original.
I’m also really proud of and in love with our Machine Drum Wash scoops. They come with our Machine Wash and are made of our refill packs that are beyond reuse - in collaboration with Precious Plastics Melbourne we shred these refills down and make them into our adorable scoops.
What makes your business sustainable?
What is your favourite piece of clothing in your wardrobe?
My Acne jeans. They are years old now, their cost per wear must be in the cents, but they are well made, durable and seem to have transformed with my body perfectly throughout two pregnancies.
Where can people purchase your products?
You can purchase our products directly from our Website, https://thedirtcompany.com.au/
We’re also available through lots of other independent retailers such as Happy Apple and Your Grocer.
What is your favourite sustainability tip?
We recently did a blog post on the importance of rewearing and how the most sustainable thing you can do for your closet (and for free) is to rewear what you already have.
It’s something that has really been resonating with the team lately and we have been striving to shop sustainable, second hand and to upcycle what we already have. As well as taking extra special care of our clothes such as washing them properly with Dirt to make them last as long as possible.
Here at Arlo and Olive we love small supporting small, and Shaina has actually been using products from The Dirt Company since 2020! They leave our clothes clean and smelling fresh and we just love how we can send the pouches back to be used again.
You can purchase The Dirt Company products here: https://thedirtcompany.com.au/
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It can be so difficult to determine exactly if a brand is sustainable or not, we get it! There is a lot of misleading information being thrown around here, there and everywhere.
We have broken our business down into 5 key sustainability pillars - this is how we operate, and we want to pass this information on to you so you can too be informed to make the most conscious buying decisions.
]]>We have broken our business down into 5 key sustainability pillars - this is how we operate, and we want to pass this information on to you so you can too be informed to make the most conscious buying decisions.
Remember, no business is perfect, however some are doing more than others!
FABRICS
This is a key factor at Arlo and Olive, and something that is super important to us.
With a lot of research the below list of fabrics is what we have decided to use:
We have a breakdown of why we love these fabrics here.
There are other great fabrics to what is listed above such as Hemp, Econyl (regenerated Nylon), RPet (recycled Polyester), Lenzing Modal, which we will definitely consider using in the future as we grow and expand our product offering.
Now the bad stuff, here is what we avoid at all costs - and if a brand is using these and calling themselves sustainable, maybe rethink shopping with them.
MANUFACTURING
The 2nd pillar is how it is made. Who made your clothes?
We believe that you should know exactly where your products come from.
This is one of the most important pillars, making sure the clothing is produced in a safe working environment where staff are not exploited.
Our factory is an Aussie Owned business in Denpasar, Bali.
We recently visited the factory and met the wonderful people who make our pieces.
We believe in disclosing as much information as possible (without naming our manufacturer) so you can best understand how your clothing is made. For example:
Our manufacturers employees:
- Are paid above award wages, and voluntary overtime.
- Work Monday - Friday, with a voluntary working day on Saturdays.
- Receive a bonus around their religious holiday.
- Are entitled to 27 paid days of leave a year.
- Are entitled to paid maternity leave.
- Receive health insurance and workplace insurance.
Businesses should have a code of conduct for their factory, including such things as no child labour, reasonable working hours, paid overtime, above award wages, safe and clean work space, health and workplace insurance, paid leave etc.
And remember, there are good and bad factories EVERYWHERE, so make sure to read up on each brand before you purchase.
PACKAGING
Packaging is a super important pillar to a sustainable business. We have a sustainable product, but it shouldn’t end there. What are the garments shipped in? What packaging is included in the parcel?
Here are the key thing you should look for:
Don't be fooled by receiving an item in a ‘recycled plastic bag’, although it is recycled most consumers will put straight in their rubbish bin and not take to a soft plastic recycling bin, meaning it will end up straight in landfill.
Our items are sent to us in compostable bags, which we compost here. We use recyclable and compostable shipping boxes, with compostable labels and stickers so you can either pop them in your recycling bin or straight in your compost bin. We also use FSC certified tissue paper and post consumer recycled thankyou cards. This is one of the easiest AND cheapest ways for a business to reduce their impact.
TRIMS
Trims are something that often get overlooked by businesses, but we think they still make a big impact. Now, as a small business there are a LOT of things we want to do, but at the moment we can't hit the minimum order quantities, so I am excited to keep evolving and becoming better and better.
Below is what we are doing so far and things to look out for:
And this is what we have in the works for the future:
QUANTITY
The last one is the amount of product a business is producing, how many seasons are they putting out a year, how many new products are uploaded to the website and how frequently.
We are a slow fashion brand, meaning we only put out 2-3 collections a year. We do not operate on seasonal trends and produce pieces that can be worn all year round. One of the biggest things we focus on is making our collections interchangeable, so pieces from each collection can be matched back to previous collections.
Fast fashion brands put out new pieces very frequently, sometimes every week, or even every day! This means that they are producing a massive amount of products based on micro trends which probably won't be in style in 2 months time. This does not promote conscious consumerism and encourages high volumes waste.
This is a summary of what to look our for when making purchases if you are wanting to shop more mindfully. There is so much we can be doing as businesses and as consumers to reduce our impact, so i hope this helps!
]]>I am SO excited to be officially launching out brand new winter collection; Golden Mornings. As usual, i have taken a trans-seasonal approach to design a collection that can be mixed and matched to fit any season.
Drop 1 boasts 2 new prints across 10 new pieces, all made in eco-friendly fabrics with plastic free trims of course.
Drop 1 boasts 2 new prints across 10 new pieces, all made in eco-friendly fabrics with plastic free trims of course.
Our new fabrics EcoVero and organic cotton / lyocell are both sustainable alternatives to traditional viscose fabrics.
EcoVero by Lenzing uses only responsibly sourced wood from PEFC or FSC certified tree plantations. and the fabric is produced in a closed-loop solvent system, meaning almost no solvent is dumped into the ecosystem.
The Lyocell we use is OEKO-TEX certified meaning that the fabric textiles is certified free of harmful chemicals and are safe for human use.
So, lets introduce the pieces!
THE AURORA DRESS
THE SUNDOWN PANTS AND SWEET PEA TOP
THE DUSK SKIRT AND DAWN TOP
That is all i'm going to show for now, i know you are all waiting to see the corduroy in all its glory - not much longer till you can get your hands on it!
]]>Bio-degradable VS compostable, what’s better?
Let’s break it down (see what I did there 😉)
We feel that bio-degradable can be a very misleading label, as consumers are not able to be confident that the product will break down quickly or break down without leaving toxins behind.
We love using compostable products at Arlo and Olive. And here are a few reasons why.
]]>Let’s break it down (see what I did there 😉)
BIODEGRADABLE
Calling something bio-degradable means that the product has the ability to completely break down into natural substances, in the right conditions. Micro-organisms, fungi or bacteria must be present to aid the product in breaking down. But this doesn’t always mean that it degrades without leaving behind toxins, that can be harmful to our earth. There are also no standards associated with the length of time it takes for the product to biodegrade, meaning it could be 50 days or 50 years!
We feel that bio-degradable can be a very misleading label, as consumers are not able to be confident that the product will break down quickly or break down without leaving toxins behind.
So, what is the alternative?
COMPOSTABLE
We love using compostable products at Arlo and Olive. And here are a few reasons why.
Compostable means that the product will break down completely, leaving behind no toxins that are harmful to the soil and our eco-system. They also have a time frame in which they are required to breakdown in to be able to be labelled as compostable, this varies between certifications.
There are two types of compostable, Industrial compostable, and home compostable.
Industrial compostable products are required to break down in 12 weeks in an industrial composting facility, however will still break down in your home compost, it will just take more time.
Home compostable products come with the AS5810 certification, which means they are certified to break down in your home compost bin in a maximum of 180 days, however most will break down much faster. This certification even includes a test to make sure the wormies are not being harmed.
Home compostable products are converted into compost, and CO2 meaning they are actually benefitting the soil to encourage healthier crops. It also eliminates water and methane production, meaning it is a much more sustainable alternative to your rubbish bin.
You might be reading all this and thinking, but Shaina, I don’t have a compost bin!
Don’t worry, there are a few options for you! The best option is asking a friend, family member or neighbour if they would be happy to compost your bags for you. You could also look into your community garden, most suburbs have them and have composting available on site.
If you have no way of composting your products, you can bury them in your garden, or re-use them for mailing, as a bin liner, or even picking up dog poo.
One important thing to note – if you receive an order in a compostable bag, make sure to check with the brand whether they use compostable shipping labels, as many companies don’t.
In the case that they do not use compostable labels, please be sure to cut this off before composting the bag, as this will not breakdown with the bag.
At Arlo and Olive, all our packaging is certified with the AS5810 home compostable certification, including our shipping labels. So when you receive your order from us you can pop the entire bag in the compost bin to feed the soil and the wormies!
]]>In March we were lucky enough to be invited to be a part of Revival Runways Summer Daze fashion show.
Revival Runway are a not for profit organisation who put on shows for small independent designers, with a focus on ethical and sustainable garment production.
]]>Revival Runway are a not for profit organisation who put on shows for small independent designers, with a focus on ethical and sustainable garment production.
The show was at the beautiful Abbotsford Convent, where the models walked through the dreamy gardens amongst the heritage architecture.
We presented 10 curated looks from our current collection, styled by the wonderful Revival Runway team.
Alongside 9 other incredibly talented designers, our pieces were truly brought to life.
Without further ado, the Summer Daze runway, presented by Fashion Revival Runway…
]]>Did you know that the average standard cotton t-shirt uses 2,700 litres of water to make - yep, you read that right!
We use certified organic cotton, which means it passes a global standard of testing to ensure the fabric is truly organic.
By choosing to buy organic cotton you are enhancing the health of humans, animals and natural resources around the world.
We have a brief write up on cotton and linen on our ethical journey page, however we want to delve into a little more details to help you gain a better understanding of these fabrics.
We use certified organic cotton, which means it passes a global standard of testing to ensure the fabric is truly organic. This certification ensures a lot of things, here is a breakdown.
Part 1 of the collection boasts 9 beautiful pieces, perfect for spontaneous one-nighters and weekend beach jaunts. The pieces are crafted from 100% linen, and organic cotton, to ensure we limit our impact on the earth, and for a breezy piece to throw on after the beach.
This collection has been in the making for the last 18 months, they represent the story behind Arlo & Olive, and i am so excited to share it with you all.
The inspiration behind the Flinders collection is creating a capsule wardrobe that you can take with you to the beach, to the bar, or even to the office.
I absolutely love the beachy coastal look, but find it hard to style in my hometown of Melbourne. This collection is meant to bridge the gap between holiday wear, and everyday wear, creating pieces that are reminiscent of whimsical 70s-esque silhouettes and retrofied prints, yet grounded in wearability.
We are so inspired by Australia, everywhere you look there is beauty in nature.
We want each collection to be reminiscent of places i love around Australia.
The first place we want to pay tribute to is the Mornington Peninsula.
As you get to know the pieces, you can see that they are all named after towns down the Mornington Peninsula coast of Victoria. For example, we have the Hastings Dress, the Arthur('s seat) set, the Leo pant, the list goes on.
I spent a lot of time there in my teen years, and its really where i got my love for the beach.
Each piece is crafted by our beautiful Aussie owned factory in Bali, under ethical working conditions. We love our factory, and all the wonderful sustainability initiatives they have. To learn more about our sustainability journey click here.
Each piece of the Flinders Collection was designed with mother earth in mind.
8 of the 9 pieces are made from 100% linen, which is easy to grow, and takes minimal resources to turn it into a fibre.
The remaining one piece is made from OEKO-TEX certified organic cotton, which passes global testing to ensure the cotton is ethically and sustainably produced, with no chemicals.
Made for sun-dappled mornings that melt into frivolous nights. Crafted from a beautiful linen fabric, perfect for a summer’s arvo, post-swim or pre-dinner. The Hastings dress is sure to be a head-turner, wear her to the beach, bar, or even your best mates wedding.
In breezy, lightweight linen, this is your new go-to throw on for summer. Dress up or down with sandals or sneakers for an easy summer outfit that is sure to impress.
Serious 70’s vibes with these pants. The Leo pant exudes summertime radiance, in its bold 70's-esque prints, and wide-leg cut, these pants are your new go-to! Pair with the Belle top for a perfect summer ensemble.
To the beach, or the bar, your new summer staple is sure to be at the top of your suitcase all summer long. Pair with the Belle top, or Arthur shirt for a cheeky summer ensemble.
The Arthur shirt is the perfect shirt to throw on over your bathers after a dip Pair with your Arthur shorts, or fave pair of vintage jeans for a perfect summer ensemble.
The perfect match for your Leo pants, the Belle top is the perfect little number for every occasion. No summer holiday is complete without this breezy top.
The Flinders Tee is a classic for every season, inspired by the 70s and our home city – Melbourne.
Crafted in beautiful organic cotton, our boxy fit tee is your new wardrobe staple. Pair with the Leo pant, or Arthur shorts for a casual summer ensemble.
Our beautiful pieces are hand crafted in Bali, Indonesia, by a small Factory.
We are donating $1 from every order to The Bali Childrens Project. The Bali Childrens Project helps to provide education for children living in Bali.
"Escaping poverty through education"
With each order placed on our website we are helping provide the necessary means to help children in poverty become educated.
Your donation will be distributed to where it is needed most, whether that be to buy school books, fund a library, provide backpacks to students etc.
We feel it is so important to give back to the wonderful community who make our clothes.
You can read more about what the wonderful team at The Bali Childrens Project do here.