What's really behind every Mia & The Sea piece.

When I first started Mia & The Sea, I held stock. And what I found was product sitting unsold, taking up space and going to waste. For a brand that's meant to look after the ocean, that didn't sit right with me.

So I changed how it works. Every piece is now printed on demand by my print partner, Printful. Nothing is printed until you order it, so there's no pile of unsold stock heading to landfill. It does mean your order takes a little longer to reach you. Most orders arrive within 1 to 2 weeks, and up to 28 business days if yours is printed further away. I think that's a fair trade.

I want to be upfront about what that means, and what it doesn't.

What I can tell you for sure Most designs are printed with water based inks that are OEKO-TEX certified, so they've been tested for harmful substances. Embroidered pieces use OEKO-TEX certified threads. The organic tees and the bucket hat are GOTS certified organic cotton. And apparel shipped from Printful's own facilities comes in packaging made from at least 70% recycled plastic.

Where I'm still working on it Not everything is organic. The hoodies and heavyweight tees are regular cotton or cotton blends, because that's what gives them their warmth and weight. When I add new pieces, I look for organic or recycled options first, and I'll always tell you honestly when something isn't.

Giving back We donate to the Australian Marine Conservation Society every month, and every order adds an extra $1 on top. I'm proud that Mia & The Sea is an official AMCS Business Supporter.

I'm one person doing this, and I won't always get it perfect. But I'd rather tell you the truth than make it sound greener than it is. If you ever have a question about where something comes from, email me at hello@miaandthesea.com.au.

You'll find all of this, kept up to date, on our Sustainability page.

Protect. Respect. Love Our Oceans.