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Our Global Supply Partners
If you know BlackMilk, you’ll know we love things that are cool. And clothes made in sweatshops? Definitely 1000% not cool.
For the past decade, we’ve been providing an ethical alternative, and we’re always looking for ways to create the best quality gear for you. Part of this process is deciding what can be made here at BMHQ, and when we need to team up with global partners to bring our crazy designs to life (and make sure they’re actually wearable for you).
How do we screen Global Supply Partners?
No matter where items are being made, it’s a non-negotiable for us that everything is manufactured ethically. So how do we keep this in check? There are a few steps we’ve taken to stay across our supply chain.
Supplier Code of Conduct Agreement
We require all our suppliers to sign a Supplier Code of Conduct agreement. This outlines standards that must be met and helps to protect workers’ rights.
Industry Certifications
There are also a few certifications we look for in the partners we work with.
Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI)
Most of our partners are part of the BSCI program. This program sets some of the highest labour protection guidelines, helping protect workers’ rights through a number of audited criteria:
- The rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining
- No discrimination
- Decent working hours
- No child labour
- Fair remuneration
- No bonded labour
- Occupational health and safety
- Special protection for young workers
- Ethical business behaviour
- No precarious employment
- Protection for the environment
OEKO-Tex Standard 100
We know, it’s a mouthful, but what that means is, any chemical usage required in the production process is in full compliance with International Environment Protection.
SEDEX
A global membership organisation that helps companies keep on top of their ethical practices by making supply chain data more transparent.
Who are our partners?
Being a smaller business, publicly naming our partners could open the doors for our products to be imitated. Whilst they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and we are confident in our supplier’s commitment to ethical manufacturing, we need to protect our intellectual property. After all, this is what sets us apart, particularly from mass competitors.
So we can’t name our partners, but we will tell you as much as possible about them, so you can get to know where your clothes come from!
Our Active, Swim and Must Haves Partner
Like all of our global products, our activewear and swimwear is designed right here at BMHQ by our talented Design team, so they have the same unique BlackMilk signature we're famous for. Our Product Development team develop all the patterns and specifications right here as well and work closely with our supply partner to make sure that the garments are produced to our BM specs resulting in consistent fit and quality.
When it comes to manufacturing, active and swim is a little trickier to produce than some of our usual garments, because it needs to be functional, breathable and suit its fit purpose. We work with a manufacturer in southwest China who specialises in this area. This partnership has allowed us to create garments using technology that has resulted in updated structure, features and benefits. We’ve also been able to get more creative with our designs and patterns, and yeah, that’s kind of important to us!
We also team up with this supplier to manufacture some of our must have leggings and tops, so we can get them to you at a great quality and an even better price.
Like all our suppliers, this global partner was handpicked by us not only for their expertise and quality, but also for their shared commitment to ethical manufacturing. Our active, swim and Must Haves partner participates in the BSCI. We have personally visited this factory and got to meet a few of the workers who make your clothes!
All workers in this factory are provided with:
- An employment contract
- Annual leave and sick leave
- A canteen and meals at work
- Capped overtime (factory staff can’t work more than one hour of overtime per day)
- Wages that are higher than the local area for manufacturing
Our Hosiery and Bodysuit Partner
Our Hosiery and Bodysuit Partner is located in Italy and specialises in warp-knitted seamless apparel using state-of-the-art knitting technology. They participate in Intertek Social Audits that review working conditions to ensure workers’ rights are protected and are OEKO-Tex Standard 100 certified.
Like all our other gear, hosiery and bodysuits are rigorously tested to ensure they measure up to our standards.
Our hosiery and bodysuit partner is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified.
Our Specialty Products Partners
We always want to bring you styles that are new, fresh and totally unique, so we’ve partnered with a number of additional suppliers who are technical experts in those particular products, printing techniques, fabrics and styles (think foiled, flocked and woven fabrics, and super intricate detailing like the Dungeon Chic Bodysuit!). This means we can be sure that the products we are offering you are super high quality and made by specialists in that area.
We spend a lot of time seeking out these partners to make sure that not only are they the best at what they do, but that they align with our ethical manufacturing values. Each of our partners is required to sign our Code of Conduct guaranteeing fair working conditions for their employees. In addition, most are participants of the BSCI and conditions are audited annually.
If you’ve made it this far in reading all about where we make your clothes then congrats, you must care about ethical manufacturing as much as we do! Be sure to check out jL’s video and blog for some more info. And don’t forget, you can always come back to this page to get the latest up-to-date info on our manufacturing.
