Australian ethical pyjama brand Moonbird has won Best Fashion Product at the 2014 Green Lifestyle Awards.
Established in 2012, the Green Lifestyle Awards were developed by Green Lifestyle magazine to recognise people and businesses that are leading the charge toward a cleaner and greener living environment.
“We rewarded Moonbird’s organic pyjamas as the winner of the fashion – product category because of their outstanding commitment to ethical sourcing, and their ability to minimise their environmental footprint,” says Caitlin Howlett, editor of Green Lifestyle.
Moonbird’s founder, former film costumier Rachel Pines, says winning the award has been fantastic for her business. “It is awesome to have the recognition of our philosophies and our designs. The support from customers has been wonderful and the exposure means we can reach so many more people.”
Pines was inspired to start Moonbird after realising there was a gap in the market for beautiful, ethically made pyjamas. “I truly believe fashion should be fun, beautiful and ethical. I don’t think you should have to choose between these things, you should be able to have it all. But I couldn’t find it, so Moonbird was born.
“I’d like for people to be able to sleep soundly knowing they were contributing to a better environment for people and nature.”
Moonbird pyjamas are designed both in Australia and India, where they are hand screen printed and then produced in a Fair Trade facility in Jaipur. “Fair Trade manufacturing means that not only are the workers paid and treated well, they are valued and their communities are supported,” she says.
Pines believes there is a growing market in Australia for ethically sourced products. “I’m surprised at how educated people are about the ethics involved in manufacturing and love that people approach me to talk about their experiences trying to buy more sustainable products. I know that consumers who are looking for better choices get frustrated that there are not more options easily available.”
