BeauTex Designs is an Australian designed and owned, sustainable and ethical workwear manufacturer, which aims to be a pioneer in the beauty sustainability space; encouraging waste minimisation, transparency, and ethical trade practises at the forefront of all of their operations, writes Mala McAlpin.

Targeting the hair and beauty industry initially, BeauTex brings the industry a range of footwear for a trade that are always on their feet. Created by entrepreneur and designer Brooke Jones, the Brisbane-based creator of Little Tanning Dress and the Sonder Place fashion boutique, the label offers a range of footwear designs made from 100% recycled materials. The shoes are also water repellent and bleach resistant.

We asked Brooke to tell us the story behind the exciting brand’s conception.

What sparked the idea for the brand concept?
After first launching the Little Tanning Dress, we found that many of the salons we wholesaled to were wearing the dresses in salon as they were loose fitting, comfortable and for time poor stylists the quick dry feature was a huge benefit.

From there, we launched a brand of apparel designed specifically for the hair industry that offered a range of professional yet stylish black clothing that was bleach and hair resistant, giving stylists a sustainable clothing option that they could wear again and again saving both time and money.

After launching this range, we really began looking at our own environmental footprint and knew that we wanted to find ways to improve. We looked at how and what we were manufacturing which lead us on a journey of not only self-discovery, but also the growth and potential of our own manufacturing processes.

Fashion is unfortunately a large contributor to landfill and environmental damage, but through our own research and discovery we know that it can be done better, so we are on a mission to improve and tidy up the industry through recycling and turning waste into functional fashion.

What does sustainability in this industry mean to you?
When you think about all of the waste that occurs in the industry, it really does add up. From the clothes stylists wear and inevitably ruin with chemicals, to product packaging being used and disposed of, to the water and electricity usage it takes to run a salon, there’s more need than ever before for businesses to do their bit and be more conscious of their choices.

I feel as though manufacturing processes, the materials used, and how businesses respond to that will play a huge part in sustainability as we are now giving stylists the option to say no to waste and yes to quality and conscious designs. People have the option to make more sustainable choices, not only by becoming a green salon in the workplace but now also by wearing sustainable uniforms and protective clothing as well.

What can you tell us about the range?
Our shoes are made from R-PET (recycled plastic water bottles), in fact each shoe contains 12 x 500mL plastic bottles that have been diverted from landfill, and the soles are made from recycled rubber.

We are also proud to say that not only is our packaging completely plastic free, but we use recycled cement bags made by Cambodian artisans where the funds are used to give back to the local community.

One of the most unique and exciting features of the range is that we’re able to offer a take back system where you can return your shoes once you’re ready for a new pair so that we can repurpose them re-creating new soles.

It’s really exciting for us to be bringing something like this to the market. It’s more than a shoe, it’s fulfilling a need within the industry for reliable and sustainable protective workwear whilst harnessing the potential of waste products and repurposing them for a new life. I am tremendously proud to be a helping hand in creating a more sustainable future for Australia.

BeauTex launches with six signature unisex styles, ranging in price from $193 – $215 and available to pre-order now.

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