Where are your bags made?
We make our products in-house.
Most manufacturers outsource their manufacturing to private factories who also make products for other brands. The downside of this is that if that private factory wants to cut costs or churns through workers, the quality levels of the final products can vary.
At Jack Stillman, we're pretty unusual. We make all of our gear in our own dedicated factory with our own permanent staff and we've done so since 2018. In fact our brand founder, Jarrod Stillman, also founded our factory, Stillman Manufacturing by moving to Vietnam in 2018 and living there for over a year.
Since 2023, Siggi Oliger, our Operations Manager, has lived in Da Nang Vietnam with his family to oversee our manufacturing and the commissioning of our new purpose built factory. Our new building is full air-conditioned and humid controlled throughout and has been hailed as one of the best facilities in Da Nang by numerous government officials.
Our new building - notice our JS Swallow Motif on the Wall? It's a replica of the one in our Fremantle Store.
Why this is good new for you.
The fact that we make all of our bags and ponchos and straps and more in our own factory is why we give them a Lifetime Guarantee. Many of our 25 staff have been with us since 2018 and every member can make any and all of our bags from scratch. That should give you peace of mind for a number of reasons:
- Our returns rate is a phenomenal less than 1%.
- You are buying from an ethical, family owned company with deep connections to our workers and their families.
- Our operations are run to western standards of safety.
- You have full traceability of your gear. It starts with us. It ends with you.
Busy bees! - Air-conditioned and Humidly Controlled Space
The Aussie Made Dilemma
We need to respond to the uninformed over cries that we should make our gear in Australia and that we're somehow destroying lives by not doing so. If this is you, read on. You'll learn some interesting things.
Surprisingly, only a mere 5% of apparel and accessories available from Australian retailers are manufactured in Australia. Think about that! 95% of just about everything you own is made overseas. If a company doesn't declare it's made in Australia, trust me; It isn't. In fact, try to find a page like this on most other sites. You won't. Unless it is Australian made or the brand has taken an ethical stance to be transparent.
So why is this so? Because making anything in Australia is generally 4 times more expensive and that doesn't even guarantee quality. The reasons for this are everywhere you look and it's why 95% of apparel and accessories are made elsewhere. The only way Jack Stillman can survive as a brand is to manufacture overseas. If that doesn't suit you, we are ok with that and wish you the best.
I could prattle on but I won't. Read these articles that prove I am telling the truth.
FashionJournal.com.au: Why manufacturing fashion in Australia is more difficult than you think.
ABC.net.au: Buying Australian-made clothing? It might not be as ethical as you think
Why Vietnam?
Vietnam isn't just another manufacturing hub; it’s a land of opportunities, skilled professionals, and state-of-the-art facilities. Da Nang, the location of our factory thrives with competitive, skilled artisans passionate about their craft. The city's strategic location also grants us access to world-class materials and methodologies, ensuring our products stand out in quality.
Our Ethical Stance
The question of ethics is paramount. In Vietnam, we not only adhere to the government's standards on wages, health insurance, and superannuation, but we go a step further. Recognizing the talent and dedication of our team, we ensure they're rewarded generously with competitive salaries and annual bonuses. Our commitment is clear in the glowing reviews we receive for our products.
See for yourself. Drop in!
If you're visiting Danang and would like to visit our workshop to see where all the magic happens, contact us at support@jackstillman.com.au to arrange a free tour.
