The Mainie Story - Who we are, what we do and why we do it
Founded in 2012 by Gungarri Aboriginal woman, Charmaine (Mainie) Saunders, Mainie Australia is a Supply Nation verified Indigenous owned and operated company that has been built on a solid foundation of impeccable business ethics and underpinned by a strong sense of social responsibility.
The authentic Aboriginal Dreamtime designs featured in the Mainie fashion collection have been ethically acquired from Aboriginal-owned arts centres and are licensed in accordance with the Indigenous Art Code.
Under the terms of the Mainie licensing agreements, the Aboriginal artists retain the copyright to their original artworks and receive ongoing royalty payments for the use of their designs.
Mainie is committed to supporting Aboriginal women artists from some of Central Australia’s most remote Outback communities to earn an independent income from their work while preserving their traditional culture and knowledge for future generations.
Every Mainie we make gives back to the Aboriginal woman artist who created the original design, to elevate and empower her, her family and her community.
The Mainie fashion collection is designed entirely in Australia and created from the world’s most luxurious textiles.
The provenance of the natural fibres we use to make our beautiful fashion pieces is just as important as the ethical sourcing of the authentic Aboriginal artwork imprinted on them.
Silk is not produced in Australia, so Mainie sources the best silks from the historic cities of the Silk Road, where silk-making originated around 2700 BC.
The Mainie wool scarf collection however is of true Australian origin, being produced from the world’s finest fleeces, Woolmark-certified Australian Merino wool.
Mainie also produces a plant-based, vegan-friendly Modal scarf range.
Mainie products are sourced from reputable companies that have undergone rigorous site inspections to ensure their production processes, workplace conditions and environmental protection practices comply with international standards and regulations.
Mainie manufacturers operate modern facilities, with state-of-the-art digital printing capabilities, and are longstanding suppliers of high-quality textiles to leading fashion houses in Europe and North America.
Each one of Mainie’s luxury fashion pieces is carefully handcrafted by highly skilled, artisan textile workers.
Every Mainie is destined to become a timeless heirloom that will be cherished forever.
Learn more about Mainie's ethical and sustainable fashion story at www.mainie.com.au