wonder woman: CAROLINE POINER

MEET CAROLINE POINER, CO-FOUNDER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CONSCIOUSLY-CREATED LABEL, CLOTH & CO. We chatted to her about working with her daughter, her made-for-good collections, what inspires her, and what her usual day looks like…

The Cloth & Co Story

Cloth & Co. is an Australian fashion company ethically and sustainably crafting comfortable, versatile and timeless basics.

“We are committed to producing thoughtfully designed, affordable collections that have a positive impact, both social and environmental. It is our mission to do what we do with a sense of purpose,” says Caroline.

“We are passionate about making a difference and partner with women’s cooperatives, artisan communities and small ethical factories where people are treated with respect, working in dignified conditions and all stages in the production process are independently certified from farm to stitch.”

“Our products are timeless and designed to last. We believe one of the greatest impacts we can have is to ensure you can wear our pieces for years not weeks. We source the highest quality materials that are 100% natural, our cotton is sourced from organic and regenerative farms and all of our pieces are biodegradable so that in the end, it can be recycled, repurposed or decomposed.”

We asked Caroline the bellamumma q’s, scroll to be inspired…

You, in three words? Creative, (Com)Passionate, Adventurous

What inspires you? Travel. I feel the most inspired experiencing new cultures, people and places; it helps to give me perspective. The change in environment, unfamiliar sights, sounds, colours and smells are invigorating and energising, leading to new ways of seeing.

What’s your work title? Founder/Creative Director

What was your first-ever job? When I was 15 I was quite entrepreneurial and had a homemade pie & cake business selling to cafes (based out of my mother’s kitchen)

What did you want to be ‘when you were little’? I loved cooking, that’s what I wanted to do, I loved how it brought people together, it felt like the best expression of love. I also loved the idea of travel so thought I could travel the world exploring and working. But I grew up with textiles so when I was really little I would create dolls clothes with all the gorgeous fabric samples so that was also something I loved and probably flirted with the idea of doing something with fashion.

How did ‘Cloth & Co’ come about? Daisy (daughter & business partner) & I had been traveling through India and working with a women’s cooperative where we started designing beautiful homewares. We loved working with these women and also the idea of growing this into a business where we worked with the traditional artisan techniques to create classic but contemporary lifestyle collections. We were both really determined to build a brand and create products that would not only have a low impact on our environment but also make a positive difference. Our organic cotton (which is now our mainstay) has been developed with traceability from seed to stitch and supports organic and regenerative farming practices.

Explain your usual day? Walk with one of my besties, we never run out of things to talk about! Drink my lemon water while I breathe in the view, trees around me and feel incredibly grateful to live in paradise on the Northern Beaches. I start work around 8.30 and during lockdown that might involve a few zoom meetings. I work for myself so I do a few errands and stuff around the house in between my work so they’re not a big deal and most of my communication is with India so that kicks in around 1.30 through to 8.00 pm. I do a yoga class 3 or 4 evenings a week which I really love.

What ‘makes your day’? Cuddles with my 22-month-old grandson Lenny who lives with me.

Three things in your life you can’t live without? Daisy, Hattie, Lenny (my gorgeous grandson), and Ottilie Wilde {my gorgeous 11-week old granddaughter}.

4 fave songs you’re listing to? So many but off the top of my head…Dreams Fleetwood Mac, Astrud Gilberto – Girl from Ipanema, Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah, Imagine depends on my mood.

Fave place to escape to? India

How do you relax? Yoga, Pinot Noir.

Best piece of life advice you’ve received? Travel the world. Keep your mind open and never stop being curious.

What will you be doing in 5 years? What I’m doing now, every day I’m doing what I absolutely love, so hopefully more of that. I hope to be able to travel again, I have lots of places still on my bucket list!!  I’ll also be here enjoying my growing family.

connect & contact

Visit https://clothandco.co/ for more about the brand and to shop
Follow: https://www.instagram.com/caroline.poiner/
& instagram.com/clothandco/