Ethics and Sustainability

1. ETHOS
At Deiji Studios, sustainability and social conscience is considered integral to every facet of our company. We are driven by social purpose and the pursuit of an innate sense of style that defies age and time. We release products only when we are 100% sure they are something we love and would have in our wardrobes for years to come.
 
2. RESPONSIBILITY
At Deiji Studios, we hold an unwavering commitment to ethical and sustainable practices. Our fabrications are made entirely from biodegradable or recycled materials, produced by our skilful manufacturers in China, with whom we engage daily. As proud 1% for the Planet members, we donate 1% of our annual profits to environmental organisations, extending our commitment to making a positive impact in the broader community.
In 2020 we partnered with Carbon Positive Australia to offset our entire carbon usage, and since 2022 donations exceed the carbon used. Is it our mission to continue to offset all future carbon usage and work towards zero-waste in our manufacturing process, refining all design elements to be recycled and biodegradable.
We continue to learn and evolve, finding better practices and more efficient ways of doing this as we grow. Thank you for joining us as we learn to make a positive impact for a more sustainable future.
3. COMMITMENTS
 
1% FOR THE PLANET
We are a proud member of 1% for the Planet and pledge 1% of our yearly sales revenue to environmental organisations. Committed to supporting causes we believe in, we regularly update this page with news and information about the organisations we support. In the past year, we have donated to the following organisations.
 
 KARRKAD KANJDJI TRUST
The Karrkad Kanjdji Trust brings together Indigenous ranger groups, communities, and philanthropists to address some of our nation’s most pressing issues. These include regenerating the natural environment, taking action on climate change, creating meaningful and equal employment opportunities, and supporting the continuation of the world’s oldest living culture.
 
HAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Hawaii Community Foundation creates a meaningful impact by aiding communities in Hawaii that need support. We initiated our partnership with the HCF in reaction to the destructive fires in Maui in August 2023, securing financial assistance where it's needed most.
 
WIRES WILDLIFE RESCUE
WIRES is dedicated to rescuing and nurturing sick, injured, and orphaned native animals, actively working towards the rehabilitation and preservation of Australian wildlife. During the Tambaroora bushfires and in the aftermath of the NSW floods, WIRES played a crucial role in providing on-ground assistance.
 
CARBON POSITIVE
Our business undergoes independent audits to evaluate our annual carbon footprint and subsequently purchases credits to fully offset it. We support Carbon Positive Australia, an organisation that plants native trees in protected areas across Australia for periods ranging from 25 to 100 years. Committed to sustainability, we utilise the knowledge and tools provided by Carbon Positive Australia to reduce our environmental impact.
 
SEED MOB
Seed Mob is a youth led Indigenous organisation standing strong to protect country, culture and communities from the causes and impacts of climate change. Through workshops, information sessions, and yarning circles, Seed Mob aims to educate, inspire, and motivate young climate activists to find their voices and take action locally and nationally.
 
THREAD TOGETHER
Thread Together donates samples, seconds, and end of line items with the mission to provide clothing to the increasing number of Australians do not have access to it.
According to Australian Council of Social Service Poverty & Inequality Report of 2019-20 one in eight people (including one in six children) are living below the poverty line. We believe that clothing performs a vital role in creating brighter futures for those who need it most, and we're proud to partner with Thread Together who provide clothing to over 2000 people in need every week.
 
Previously we have supported the following: Worn for Good, NSW SES, Oz Harvest, GIVIT and Good360.
4. FABRICATION
Our collections are designed with a growing list of natural and sustainable fibres including GOTS and OEKO-Tex certified French Linen, GOTS Cotton, Organic Hemp and GOTS Cotton Jersey, GRS Recycled Polyester, Ecovero Viscose, and RWS Certified Wool.
These fabrics are 100% biodegradable or recycled.
 
LINEN
Our linen is 100% certified organic by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), free from harmful chemicals and 100% certified by OEKO-TEX Standard 100. European Flax Certification ensures complete traceability, meeting EU Eco Label Certification and traceability from seed to dispatch, guaranteeing premium quality linen grown in France. European Flax produces zero waste as the whole plant is used and is grown without the use of fertilisers or pesticides, using just rainwater, requiring no additional irrigation and resulting in low water consumption. According to a report by the Institute for Water Education (IWE) of UNESCO, producing 1 kg of flax fibres requires roughly three times less water, compared to cotton fibres. The result is a breathable, hypoallergenic, and environmentally friendly fabric, signature to our collections.
 
GOTS COTTON
Our cotton is 100% certified organic by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) to minimise environmental impact, foster a safer working environment, and promote biodiversity. According to Textile Exchange's 2021 Organic Cotton report, organic agricultural practices enhance soil carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower the risk of groundwater pollution by prohibiting the use of chemicals, and save energy by avoiding the use and manufacturing of synthetic inputs. Well-managed organic systems retain more water compared to conventionally managed soil. Globally, 80 percent of organic cotton is cultivated in rainfed conditions, preserving natural water sources rather than relying on irrigation. Light, airy, and durable, our organic cotton poplin stands as a collection staple for versatile dressing.
 
ORGANIC HEMP /GOTS COTTON JERSEY
Softly weighted, strong, and hypoallergenic, our Hemp/GOTS Cotton blend forms the foundation of our Jersey range. Cultivated in the mountains of Northern China, hemp requires little land and water to grow whilst yielding large amounts of fibre with zero waste. Hemp is naturally pest resistant so requires little to no use of pesticide or fertiliser. Hemp crops have positive effects on the diversity of agricultural ecosystems and landscapes, requiring no irrigation, helping to renew the soil and capture CO2, offering a welcomed pause for the quality of the soil.
 
FINE RIBBED KNIT
For comfortable light layering, our Fine Ribbed Knit is soft to touch and carefully woven from 85% GRS recycled polyester, diverting plastic from landfill, and 15% Lenzing Ecovero viscose, reducing emissions and water impact by 50% compared to generic viscose.
 
SUSTAINABLE KNIT BLEND
Our sustainable wool blend knitwear is made from 80% RWS certified wool and 20% GRS certified recycled polyester made from reclaimed fishing nets. The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) is an industry tool designed to recognise the best practices of farmers, with the aim of improving sheep welfare and preserving land health. An RWS certification ensures from farm to the final product that animal welfare, progressive land management, and social welfare standards have been met, with credible auditing in each stage of the supply chain. The Global Recycled Standard verifies the recycled content in products, assures they are processed in a more climate-friendly way, and aims to reduce the harmful impact of production on people and the environment.
 
WOOL
Our tailored pants and shirts made from 100% wool are soft to the touch, temperature-regulating, highly breathable, and naturally odour resistant. Wool has a low environmental impact, requires minimal consumer care, and is 100% natural, renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable.
  
RECYCLED POLYESTER
Integrated into our knitwear and quilted styles, all polyester is 100% post-consumer recycled and GRS certified. The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is an international certification that establishes requirements for third-party verification in the production of items using recycled materials, with the goal of minimising adverse social, environmental, and chemical effects.
 
OTHER MATERIALS
Deiji Studios currently use plastic button closures, garment tags are composed of recycled polyester or cotton, and all garment elastic is composed of polyester. Deiji Studios has a long term aim to replace all plastic buttons with Corozo, a 100% natural and sustainable material made from cornstarch, and to replace all elastane with recycled polyester elastic.
  
5. MANUFACTURING
We consciously manufacture our product in China, and last visited our factories in December 2023.

We are committed to working together with our factories to enrich the lives of those who work on our garments and support their local communities. Ensuring all workers receive a fair living wage, reasonable working conditions, and adequate hours is of utmost importance to us. This helps cover essential needs such as food, water, accommodation, education, medical care, clothing, transport, and other essential needs.

Given the importance we place on the environment and our impact, we personally visit our China-based factories to ensure this core value is upheld in the production of our garments. Our linen is softened using natural pumice stones, and we recycle all wastewater, minimising environmental impact. Additionally we do not use harmful AZO dyes in our fabrics, and all scrap fabric is gathered in bundles to be recycled or donated to local craftspeople, who weave it into blankets and rugs.
Our factories have signed our EnvironmentalAnimal Welfare and Social Policies.
As part of our commitment to a cleaner future, we aim to send the bulk of our collections by sea freight over air transportation for our shipments from China, significantly reducing our carbon footprint. Sea freight emits 47 times less greenhouse gases per ton per mile compared to long-haul flights and contributes to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly supply chain.
6. MODERN SLAVERY STATEMENT
We are committed to upholding good labour standards and protecting the human rights of all individuals employed as a result of Deiji Studios' business. We ensure all employees receive fair wages, proper compensation, and work under pre-approved conditions. We do not condone Modern Slavery in any form, including the use of violence, deceit, threat, or coercion to recruit workers into forced or bonded labour, descent-based labour, child labour or any behaviour that undermines the freedoms or rights of a human being.
 
7. BIODEGRADABLE AND RECYCLED PACKAGING
In place of conventional plastic, all product arrives at our warehouse packaged in BPAT materials made from renewable resources like sugar cane and cornstarch, designed to be both biodegradable and home compostable. We use recycled paper for our postcards, invoices, and swing tags, and our orders are packed in recycled plastic mailer satchels, made from recovered ocean plastic pollution. 
  
8. FUTURE
Is it our mission to continue to offset all future carbon usage and work towards zero-waste in our manufacturing process, refining all design elements to be recycled and biodegradable.
We will continue to learn and evolve our practises for this new world with accountability and openness. Please get in contact if you have any suggestions for us to better our product, process, or service. We welcome your feedback.