Made locally in Aotearoa and Australia.

A large part of what Dominique Healy loves about designing garments is the process of making them.

Working directly with many makers over the years has contributed towards Dominique’s dedication to keeping a large proportion of her production in-house at her Melbourne studio. The remainder is produced in an ethically accredited factory in a Melbourne in a bid to keep the local industry alive. Without it, Dominique feels that a part of the magic of the fashion industry could be lost altogether.

By maintaining a large proportion of production in-house, Dominique has the ability to produce small runs per style that would usually not meet factory production minimums. As only a small number of garments per style are produced from the outset, Dominique moves to a ‘made to order’ model once sold through initial stock levels, leaving her with little to no stock at the end of season.

When designing, Dominique endeavors to create patterns using as much of the fabric as possible to reduce textile waste. One of her staple designs, ‘Bella Blouse’ uses approximately 95% of the fabric when cutting. This isn’t always possible but is something Dominique considers when creating and cutting a pattern.

When sourcing materials, Dominique Healy predominately uses deadstock fabric sourced from makers and mills in Japan, Hong Kong, France, Italy, Australia and New Zealand. Deadstock fabrics are end-of-line, mills overruns, cancelled orders or designer excess and are typically deemed a waste product in the fashion industry, often ending up in landfill.

All of Dominique’s linen classics are made using European Flax sourced from France and Belgium before being sent to China to be milled. Linen is made from flax, which is a hardy plant that requires little water and few pesticides and fertilisers. The mills used to produce the linen in Dominique’s classics range are OEKO-TEX certified, which means the mills must meet their regulations regarding the responsible use of chemicals.

Working in the textile industry for many years equipped Dominique with the knowledge, courage and drive to take the plunge and start her own label, one with a strong commitment to supporting and promoting local and ethical clothing production.

As the brand evolves and grows, Dominique will continue seeking and incorporating more sustainable and earth friendly materials into her collections.