Cotton On Group
Cotton On Group is an Australian retail company, renowned for its range of fashion, clothing, and stationery brands. It was founded in 1991 by Nigel Austin with the opening of the first store in Geelong, Australia. Over the years, the company has seen significant growth and as of 2023, it boasts a revenue of A$ 4.2 billion, with a workforce of 20,000 employees.
The company operates over 1,500 stores across 18 countries and encompasses eight brands: Cotton On, Cotton On Kids, Cotton On Body, Factorie, Typo, Rubi, Supré, and Ceres. Each brand caters to different demographics and style preferences, offering a wide range of products from clothing to decorative arts and sportswear.
Cotton On Group's design team, based in Australia, oversees the production process from merchandise planning to specification establishment. However, the actual production is outsourced to approximately 850 suppliers and factories around the globe. The majority of these suppliers are located in China, Bangladesh, India, and Australia, with additional facilities in Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, the United States, and other parts of Asia.
The company is also known for its philanthropic efforts through the Cotton On Foundation, which serves as the charitable arm of the organization. The foundation focuses on supporting global community projects and educational initiatives.
In addition to its commercial success, Cotton On Group is a main sponsor of the Geelong Football Club in the Australian rules football league and the AFL Women's league, showcasing its commitment to local sports and community engagement.
Despite its achievements, the company has faced challenges. In December 2012, Cotton On was fined $1 million for selling children's sleepwear that was highly flammable and misleadingly labeled as low fire danger. This incident highlighted the importance of product safety and compliance with fire safety standards in the apparel industry.
Today, Cotton On Group continues to expand its global presence and brand portfolio, aiming to bring its unique fashion and lifestyle offerings to consumers around the world.