At Char Studio we work to support a ‘slow fashion’ approach to making responsibly and locally. We focus on making timeless pieces which are deeply personal and bespoke. We don’t follow fast fashion trends, we create at our own pace and produce pieces which we genuinely feel underlines the studio's ambition - slow and considered.
Our studio ethos prioritises handmade craftsmanship to make high-quality everyday goods that are timeless and functional with a touch of playfulness.
Making responsibly Making locally
Handmade in Melbourne, with love & care
We strive to minimize our environmental footprint by designing and manufacturing locally in Melbourne and sourcing fabric suppliers in Australia. Producing locally means we can support our community by keeping trades alive and be involved throughout the manufacturing process, building sustainable relationships with our suppliers. Our pieces are mostly made in house by Charlene or from local makers.
Produced in small quantities our pieces are one-offs, limited or made to order.
This way we reduce excess stock and only make what is needed. We encourage our customers to purchase our pieces with the intention of properly wearing and caring for the product, with hope that this will reject the existence of fast fashion and support more local and sustainable practices.
Ready-Made
To offer alternative shopping experiences with Char Studio we recently introduced the ‘Ready-Made’ option. This is offered through certain pieces that are made in limited batches, sometimes as small as 3-6 units. This still maintains our commitment to keeping our model small and slow yet offering our customers the opportunity to purchase our pieces without the waiting period.
Made to Order
To keep our production small and minimise excess stock we offer Made to Order pieces. This means we only make when an order is placed that way we can manage our stock in a small and slow pace. We believe this is a sustainable approach towards making as production is solely based on demand. Despite the production waiting period of 1-3 weeks we hope with this model this will encourage our customers to shop consciously and with intention.
We choose our materials and trims carefully with intention and care,
We are conscious of the extensive impact fibres have on our environment. We choose our materials carefully with intention and care, considering not only its environmental impact but also its overall quality and durability.
We focus on using natural fabrics throughout the collection such as Cotton, Hemp and Linen. Where possible, we choose GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) Organic as a superior alternative. Our fabrics and trims are sourced from local Australian owned suppliers imported from countries such as Japan, China and Italy.
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A biodegradable cellulose fibre that grows inside of the stalks of the flax plant. It’s a resilient species that can grow in poor soils requiring very little if any fertilizer. It requires less water and energy to produce in comparison to cotton. Well known for its amazing properties such as its absorbency- Linen can absorb up to 20% of its weight in moisture. This makes the fibre highly desirable for garments as it can pull perspiration off the body. Linen can also increase its tensile strength when wet, durability- it is one of the strongest fibre. When washing linen, it makes it stronger, softer and shinier, breathability- Linen’s type of weave allows airflow throughout the body. It draws in perspiration, which cools the body, and allows heat to pass through. It releases moisture and dries very quickly
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A natural fibre made from the seedpod of the cotton plant. Well known for its versatility, performance and natural comfort. It has many amazing natural properties such as: moisture control- cotton is breathable and transmits moisture away from the body, insulation- both heat protection and thermal insulation, hypoallergenic- non irritable and very soft on the skin, durability- it has high tensile strength, making the fibre strong and durable. 100% Cotton is biodegradable, which means it breaks down when compost correctly. However there are concerns with the environmental impacts of Cotton with the use of pesticides in the production and the extensive use of water. Where possible, we choose GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) Organic Cotton as a superior alternative. Reducing environmental footprint as it’s free from fertilizers, pesticides, and other toxic chemicals. It doesn’t damage the soil, has less impact on the air, and uses less water and energy. Choosing organic cotton also means it ensures the farmers are safe and not exposed to toxic chemicals.
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We experiment with natural dyes sourced from food waste such as avocado. Our Picnic Dress is dyed from avocado waste collected from local cafes. We are continuously researching more natural dyeing techniques for coming collections.
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A natural cellulose fibre of the Cannabis sativa plant species. It is known to be one of the most ecological, strongest and most durable natural textile fibres. It has many incredible natural properties such as: insulation- Hemp provides excellent insulating factors, keeping it cool or warm, durability- it’s eight times stronger than cotton and 25 times more durable, UV protection- Hemp offers great UV protection by blocking up to 95% of the sun rays, hypoallergenic- perfect to wear if skin is irritated easily. Hemp is biodegradable and a renewable resource. It requires no pesticides, as it’s naturally pest resistant and requires no herbicides, fertilizer or any other chemical treatments.
