GOING GREEN
Mount Vic and Me® has always taken a sustainable approach to business. In fact, my previous (pre-marriage, pre-kids) business was Kara Smith Handbags, where I crafted beautiful bags from vintage and recycled fabrics, using up everything from tiny fabric scraps to old buttons and buckles. Before that I had left the advertising & design world behind and moved to the Northern Territory, where I was able to put my graphic design and illustration skills to use by taking up contracts with Parks & Wildlife. This is where my passion for preserving the environment was established.
My commitment to sustainability is evident at home, where we run on solar, have four water tanks in place, keep chooks and grow an abundance of herbs and vegetables. When it came to establishing Mount Vic and Me, seeking out eco solutions was automatic.
Recycling is a natural element of Mount Vic and Me’s everyday operations, and our small team is always on the lookout for even greener packaging and printing solutions. When it comes to stockists, we align with businesses that have a similar ethos.
We wrap our tea towels and greeting cards in cellophane bags, a viable alternative to dreaded plastic bags. More than 500 billion plastic bags are used around the world each year, mostly just once, before becoming landfill and litter. Cellophane is derived from biodegradable cellulose, usually from wood, but can also be produced from cotton or hemp.
Our packaging is hand-collated in our studio or our sewing manufacturer and the printing companies we work with are environmentally responsible. Look out for our eco-friendly, 100% home-compostable black shipping satchels. They are waterproof and durable, and they break down in 3-6 months when composted, compared to the 300 years it can take plastic bags.
DONATIONS
2023:
Rainbow Shoelace Project
Red Cross Türkiye-Syria Earthquakes Appeal
2021-2022:
Aboriginal Legal Aid
Arts Law
bentART
Beyond Blue
Bob Brown Foundation
Canteen
Caritas Australia
Daniel Morcombe Foundation
Dog Rescue Newcastle
DV West
Foundation for Australia’s Most Endangered Species Ltd
Indigenous Literacy Foundation
Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Conservation Centre WA
MYST Youth Services Team
Port Macquarie Koala Hospital
Red Cross
Science for Wildlife
Shine for Kids
Team Wonder Women Mystery Box
The Gender Centre Inc
The Kids Cancer Project
The Victorian Pride Centre
Wayside Chapel
Wear it Purple
MANUFACTURING IN AUSTRALIA
Our long-term goal is to contribute to re-growing Australian manufacturing, which in turn will open up more opportunities for effective green solutions and keeping jobs local.
To help ensure our products takes it easy on the environment, we keep as local as possible.
Australian Made campaign accreditation:
Blue Mountains Socks
Brooches
Tea towels (digital print)
Skirts
Stationery
Our sewing manufacturer in Victoria has the Ethical Clothing Australia tick of approval. As of August 2022, we are trialing sewing with the Country Womens Association (CWA) Bathurst Branch. We also sew a small volume at our studio shop.
Please note we did work with Corrective Services Industries for a short period but after learning more about the programme, we decided it was not aligned with our ethos.
MADE TO ORDER
As much as we would love to manufacturer every item, we simply can’t!
We partner with drop-shipping companies in Australia and overseas for: T shirts, shoes and boots, aprons, cushions, leggings, totes, mugs (and more!)
By not creating mass-produced items and instead creating on demand, we generate less waste and aim to keep environmental impacts within the apparel supply chain to a minimum. Each product item will list whether it’s shipped by one of our partner manufacturers or via our studio shop. Because of the nature of ‘made to order’, some items will be at least 2-4 weeks delivery time to your door.
MANUFACTURER’S SIZING
WHY ‘MENS’ OR ‘WOMENS’?
Our drop-shipping partners state sizing ‘mens’ and ‘womens’ for products including our sneakers and boots. Yes, that is not ideal and we’ll be pushing to move to one size chart into the future. You’ll see we’ve written ‘Bright, bold and funky – let’s kick it with cool boots! We mean ‘Womens’ only in manufacturers sizing – for bigger sizing check out our ‘Mens’ shoe range. Pick the perfect sized kicks for YOU!’ across products.
At Mount Vic and Me, we promote love and inclusivity. If there is something more we can do to be inclusive, please contact us. As a parent of an emerging young family member, I am learning each day and couldn’t be more proud. x
MEMBERSHIP
Mount Vic and Me is a member of Arts Law.
Meet Squawk. This guy is gorgeous! Squawk is a fabulous Black Cockatoo we adopted via the Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Conservation Centre. Squawk was found in 2018 in Sawyers Valley on the ground and unable to fly. He now lives in the interactive aviary at Kaarakin, Martin, Western Australia.
Meet Campbelltown Ella. Ella arrived at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital in March 2022 as a transfer from WIRES (Wildlife Information Rescue Education Service). She is unfit for release as she has neurological deficits, which means her ability to climb is compromised possibly from trauma to the brain, most likely from being hit by a motor vehicle. Thankfully, her mobility is good, and her gentle demeanour helped us make the decision to transfer her to their facility.
