Outland Denim began its jean-making journey when founder James Bartle had a fortuitous encounter with an anti-trafficking group at a music festival, and then travelled to Asia to see first hand how human traffickers prey on vulnerable young girls in order to service the sex industry.
After learning that once a girl has been rescued and supported through her recovery, a sustainable career path is vital for securing her future, James created the "Denim Project", which would enable those girls who demonstrated an interest in sewing to put their new skills to use.
So began the steep learning curve that is picking up a highly specialised craft from scratch, from experiments in pattern making, sourcing raw materials and stone washing in a cement mixer, to setting up a manufacturing process that began with pedal press sewing machines and hot-coal irons in remote Cambodian villages.
Today we have created a clean, bright training and production facility in Cambodia from where we manage our manufacturing operations and oversee the holistic care of our staff through wage, training and personal development initiatives.
Outland has expanded its team of seamstresses to offer positions to those at risk of falling into poverty (a contributor to trafficking vulnerability), and has broadened its mission to set a standard for the treatment and remuneration of young female workers in the garment manufacturing industry.
We are committed to sourcing the most ethically and environmentally sound raw materials, from organic denim and pocket lining to recycled packaging, and have endeavoured to verify our entire supply chain in alignment with the world's best practices.
While our headquarters are located in the hinterland surrounds of Tamborine Mountain in Australia, with our shared ethos of consuming less, less often, and buying better quality, our customers are part of the global movement toward a fashion industry that promotes environmental responsibility and human dignity.
Outland is Australia’s first Certified B CorporationⓇ denim brand.
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