Born in a small studio in Sydney, Australia, with a mission to make a real difference. Feeling frustrated when unable to find ethical and sustainable activewear, the founders decided to make their own. Their first collection in 2013 combined performance with purpose while maintaining their ethical and sustainable values.
We share a vision to create beautiful activewear that makes you, the planet and our makers feel good inside and out.
Dharma Bums
Fast forward to today, and they have a huge collection of stylish activewear made from organic and recycled materials. Their patterns are elegant and fun, all hand-drawn by their design team in Australia.
As well as using recycled and sustainable fabrics, Dharma Bums pledged to create activewear that would last the distance, keeping materials in use as long as possible.
All their hard work so far has helped save almost 1.8 million liters of water, and more than 1.5 million plastic water bottles have been recycled.
Dharma Bums: Recycled Materials
Dharma Bums uses recycled polyester made from post-consumer recycled PET water bottles.
They also use:
- Lenzel Modal, is a fabric made from sustainable raw beechwood, which is compostable and biodegradable.
- Supima Cotton, a high-quality cotton that maintains its quality over a long time.
Certification
Dharma Bums have the following certifications:
- All their mills are 100% Bluesign certified. Bluesign uses strict criteria to ensure that products were manufactured with the best possible outcome for their workers and environmental impact.
- 30% of their products are certified as OEKO-TEX Made Green certified – ensuring that their products are made with materials that have been tested for harmful substances, are made in environmentally friendly facilities and in safe and socially responsible workplaces.
- All their fabrics are certified Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex, the world’s leader in testing fabrics to regulate harmful substances.
- They follow the BSCI code of conduct and ensure their partner factories do the same. The code of conduct is aimed at making the garment-making industry a fair and safe place to work.
Other Kudos
- Dharma Bums ensures every person they work with is treated with respect.
- They work at having a minimal footprint across their entire business.
- Water used in the manufacturing process is cleaned up to 40 times before being released back into waterways.
- Garment and mailer bags are made from 100% sustainably sourced plant-based fibers making them home compostable and biodegradable.
- They even consider their offcuts and send them to be made into boxing bags to make sure they don’t end up in landfill.
- Dharma Bums continue to learn and improve their sustainability.
- Their printing methods use eco-friendly processes and dyes, using less water and electricity and producing less manufacturing waste.
- They support Tread Together, a not-for-profit organization providing brand-new clothes donated by ethically responsible brands to Australians in need.
- The Ocean Recycled Filament they use diverts plastic waste from entering our oceans, and when compared to materials made from virgin polyester, it reduces CO2 emissions by up to 50%.
Recycled Products
