Behind every Renew Bohemian piece is a story.
Not just the story of the reclaimed textiles that have found a second life, or the hands that carefully transform them into clothing, but the people and partnerships that make it all possible.
Brooke & her mum, Heather, with some of the women who craft our beautiful kantha fabric
From the very beginning, Brooke knew she wanted Renew to be built differently. Today, all three of our production partners, two workshops in India and one in Bali, are owned by women who share our belief in thoughtful craftsmanship, long-term relationships, and creating beautiful clothing with purpose.
In many ways, that feels like a natural extension of Renew itself.
Renew Bohemian was founded by Brooke during the beautiful, busy years of raising two young children. What began as a passion for vintage clothing and reducing textile waste slowly grew into the brand it is today, shaped by motherhood, creativity, and a belief that fashion could be kinder to both people and the planet.
Our own team is proudly women-led, and championing women across our industry has become part of who we are.
Why It Matters
Around the world, women continue to make incredible strides in business. More women than ever are starting companies, leading organisations, and reshaping industries that have been largely dominated by men. Here in Australia, we've seen record workforce participation, growing representation in leadership, and steady progress towards greater equality.
But there is still work to do.
Women remain less likely to receive funding, are often underrepresented in senior leadership, and continue to earn less on average than men. Many also balance the demands of running a company alongside caring responsibilities, something that still falls disproportionately to women.
For us, those realities aren't discouraging. They're a reminder that the choices each of us make as businesses and consumers matter.
Research has consistently shown that when women succeed economically, they often reinvest back into their families and local communities first, supporting education, healthcare, and future opportunities. The impact extends far beyond a single owner, creating positive change that flows through generations.
For us, choosing women-owned partners has never been about making a statement.
It's about building the kind of relationships we believe in, because they shape the kind of world we want to be part of.
Brooke learning how to sew a kantha blanket
Choosing Partnership Over Transactions
When Brooke first began searching for production partners, price was never the only consideration.
She was looking for people who genuinely cared about their craft. People who valued quality over quantity, who wanted to create clothing thoughtfully rather than chasing fast production schedules.
Those conversations eventually led to the connections we still have today.
Rather than moving factories in search of lower costs or bigger production capacity, we've chosen to grow alongside the people who have grown with us.
We know one another, solve problems together, celebrate milestones together, and, like any meaningful relationship, have built trust over time.
The hello hug with one of our partners in India on Brooke's trip last year!
The Ripple Effect
One of the things we love most about working with women-owned workshops is the positive impact those partnerships can have.
Behind every woman who owns one of our partner workshops are families, employees, artisans, suppliers, and communities.
When a small business flourishes, it creates opportunities that ripple out far beyond the business itself.
The women who own our partner workshops have built teams, supported skilled makers, preserved traditional textile techniques, and created meaningful employment within their communities. We feel incredibly fortunate to have built our business alongside theirs, celebrating one another's successes as we continue to evolve together.
Today, through our workshops in India, our Australian team, pattern makers, and the thousands of women who lovingly hand-stitch the kantha blankets that become our clothing, Renew helps generate work for more than 5,000 women each year.
That's something we're incredibly proud of.
Behind every garment is a network of skilled women whose craftsmanship, creativity, and dedication make Renew possible.
Growing Together
Slow fashion is often described in terms of fabrics, sustainability, or reducing waste.
And don't get us wrong, those things matter deeply to us.
But for us, slow fashion is equally about people. It's about knowing who makes our clothing; it's about building connections that last years, not seasons; and it's about choosing collaboration over convenience and partnership over shortcuts.
We believe that businesses can grow together without leaving anyone behind.
The kantha HQ team at our recent shoot!
Looking Ahead
As Renew continues to evolve, our commitment to these relationships only deepens.
Towards the end of the year, we'll be sharing more of the people behind our clothing, the craftsmanship involved in creating each collection, and the incredible makers who bring our designs to life.
Because while every garment begins with recycled fabric, it's the people behind it that make it truly special.
Thank you for supporting a label that believes in thoughtful partnerships, beautiful craftsmanship, and lifting one another up along the way.
A craftswoman in India with a gorgeous patchwork kantha blanket she has been working on
We hope this little glimpse behind the scenes has helped you understand the values that underpin every Renew piece. Thank you for supporting not only our small business, but the incredible women-led teams who make every collection possible.
We'd love to hear your thoughts over in our wonderful Facebook community, where we regularly share the stories behind our collections, our makers, and the journey of building a slow fashion brand. You can also follow along on Instagram for behind-the-scenes moments and join our newsletter to be the first to hear about new collections, journal posts, and everything happening here at Renew Bohemian.
