Balancing Motherhood & Ethical Fashion Beyond Australian-Made
Why I’m Expanding Beyond Australian-Made
When I first began Mina Finery, keeping everything Australian-made was very important to me. Supporting local makers felt like the most natural extension of my values — ethical fashion, sustainable fashion, and modest clothing created with care. And for a while, it worked.
But as my business has grown, so has my family. With four children and the responsibility of running a business largely on my own, I’ve had to face the reality that producing exclusively in Australia isn’t always financially viable or easy. To continue manufacturing everything here, I would need to increase the cost of my garments significantly — to a point where they would no longer be accessible to many of the women I design for. In addition to that, it really is just a lot of work for me to manufacture here. I do all of the running around and have to go from patternmaker to cutter to sewist and I honestly just don’t have enough time to do that anymore.
A New Chapter with Eloma Consultancy
While I still value and will support Australian production where I can, I’ve also been exploring other ethical manufacturing options. Through Eloma Consultancy, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with some incredible ethical factories in India. These factories have clean, transparent supply chains and uphold the same standards I refuse to compromise on.
It’s been such a relief to know that even though I may not be producing everything locally, I can still ensure that every garment reflects the same integrity, quality, and care that Mina Finery has always stood for. This is what slow fashion means to me — considered choices, transparent processes, and timeless designs.
Why This Matters
Whether a garment is made in Australia, India, China or wherever, the reality is that there can be both ethical and unethical practices in every country. The location itself is not the guarantee of integrity — it’s the people, the systems, and the transparency behind the work.
By partnering with carefully vetted factories, I can:
Maintain the high-quality craftsmanship you’ve come to expect from Mina Finery.
Ensure my supply chain is clean and free from exploitation.
Keep prices within reach, so that conscious fashion and modest womenswear remain accessible.
Work with skilled artisans to keep traditional crafts alive.
Choosing Balance Over Perfection
As a mum and a founder, I’ve learned that I can’t do it all, all of the time. Striving for balance — not perfection — has become my guiding principle. And part of that balance is acknowledging that working with trusted ethical manufacturers overseas allows me to continue creating pieces you love, without compromising on values or overextending myself.
Mina Finery remains, as always, rooted in modest fashion, ethics, and sustainability. This new chapter doesn’t change our mission — it strengthens it.