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Melbourne knitwear label, Otto & Spike, has pegged Ethical Clothing Australia’s colours to its mast becoming the latest emerging local brand to become accredited and licensed to display the Ethical Clothing Australia trademark on their Australian-made products.

The brand from Brunswick-based manufacturer, LMB Knitwear, is known for its colourful winter woollies that have a familiar retro aesthetic. The brand also has an environmental bent with a commitment to using remnant and surplus yarn for its ranges.

Otto and Spike’s Brand Development Consultant, Alasdair MacKinnon, said with over 40 years history of knitting, the family-run business and its products have a strong sense of location and connection to the local community.

As well as the ethical elements of the Otto and Spike knitwear and accessories range, we were keen to tap into the idea of the brand being a ‘product of place’, because we found local consumers increasingly want to know about products with provenance and substance. What we weren’t prepared for was, that this story had meaning for consumers internationally, who want to know who made it, where, how, the whole process and story,” Mr Mackinnon said.

Otto and Spike’s accreditation comes hot on the heels of successful applications from other emerging labels such as Redbox7, M&BM, and The Social Studio.

Redbox7 owner, Deborah Ives, said her range of active-wear was inspired by busy women that succeed in juggling jobs, children, and the rest, along with health and exercise activities.

Meanwhile, M&BM continues to build on its fun range of 100% organic tees from Sydney’s northern beaches while pursuing its goal to maintain a design philosophy, which can be supported indefinitely in terms of social and environmental responsibility.

In Melbourne, The Social Studio, continues as a unique social enterprise that develops work and life skills for the local refugee community in a highly motivating context that encourages young people to follow their aspirations. They also use a high component of excess manufacturing materials to re-configure it into original and unique clothing.

See the Accredited brands page for information about other brands accredited with Ethical Clothing Australia.