DECJUBA’s locally made Aussie wool knitwear

An item from the LOCAL BY DECJUBA collection, a long sleeve V neck top, made in Australia by ABMT using 100% Merino wool.

Australian women’s clothing brand DECJUBA has partnered with ABMT, a fabric and garment manufacturer based in Melbourne, to create a 100% Merino wool collection of Woolmark-certified garments.

DECJUBA is a leading Australian womenswear brand and retailer offering fashion forward clothing at more than 120 stores across Australia as well as its popular online store.

The company in May launched a new LOCAL BY DECJUBA collection of garments made from 100% Merino wool sourced from farms across Australia. As well as using locally sourced wool, the yarn for the collection is knitted and dyed in Melbourne by ABMT, a locally owned and operated fabric and garment manufacturer, which cuts and sews the fabric into garments.

The apparel range comprises a set of premium essentials that will be worn again and again: a long sleeve V neck top, crew top and long line open cardigan.

“DECJUBA is known for its knitwear. Each winter season we design essential knit styles for the everyday. The fine gauge Merino wool is easy to pair back with everything in your wardrobe,” said DECJUBA’s Head of Knitwear, Nicola Bunting.

The Woolmark-certified LOCAL BY DECJUBA collection is promoted on the home page of the DECJUBA website as well as at the brand’s stores across Australia.

DECJUBA has a strong commitment to sustainability and is on a mission to become Australia’s most responsible fashion label. The company says its Woolmark-certified LOCAL BY DECJUBA collection – made in Australia from sustainably sourced 100% Merino wool – is a demonstration of its commitment to increasing its range of responsible and circular products.

“Through this partnership with ABMT, we were able to reduce our carbon footprint, ensure quality, and support our local industries. We are working towards increasing our locally made product offering for our customers,” said DECJUBA Chief Operations Officer, Audrey Nania.

100% Aussie wool made in Australia

As one of the original pioneers of Merino wool circular knits, ABMT has more than 15 years of experience in working with natural fibres and what it strongly believes is the best fibre on earth: Merino wool.

“Our Merino wool is grown on farms with sustainable farming practices from around Australia including Victoria’s South West, Tasmania, Western Australia and the NSW Tablelands,” said ABMT’s Global Sales Manager, Julian Collins.

“We manage the whole process from selecting wool from the farms, making the fabric and sewing the garments. Our passionate specialised team guide the whole process from start to finish, and do it in the most environmentally and socially responsible manner possible.”

The ABMT facility in Melbourne is purpose built to work with natural fibres and has knitting capabilities ranging from 14gg to 30gg in single jersey, double knit and jacquard, as well as speciality finishing equipment.

A circular knitting machine at ABMT’s production facility in Melbourne.

Julian says business is going well with growing demand from companies increasingly keen to have their fabric and garments manufactured domestically in Australia.

“The demand is stronger than it has been for decades with large and small brands and retailers embracing the old, now new, model of sovereign manufacturing,” Julian added.

More information: www.decjuba.com.au/local-by-decjuba

This article appeared in the September 2022 edition of AWI’s Beyond the Bale magazine. Reproduction of the article is encouraged.