Our Manufacturing

Ethically made, in Canada and beyond.

When we launched Nettle’s Tale, a phrase we used a lot was ‘honest swimwear.’ The word ‘honest’ encompassed a lot of things for us: our desire to create ethically made, high-quality products that really fit well, and to show them on a diverse range of bodies in an unaltered way. It also represented the values we put on ethical manufacturing and discussion around what it looks like to be responsible makers & consumers.

Manufacturing locally has been an important pillar of our business thus far as it provides both an opportunity to be more hands on in our production process (ensuring quality and safe working practices) as well as contributing to our local economy. 

As we’ve grown over the years our values, and our product offerings, have expanded as well. Our first priority is clothing mid-and-plus size bodies, but our close second is ensuring transparency in our production, and that the people in our production line are treated fairly. 

We will continue to always use manufacturing facilities that pay people fair wages and have safe working conditions, but we have also discovered a need for other things: technological advancements in manufacturing, the ability to restock our most popular styles more than once a year, and a more affordable range of products.

Over 90% of our products are still made in Canada, but over the years we have partnered with manufacturers internationally that share our ethics and values. We proudly make our products in China, Taiwan and the United States. 

100% of our swim wear is cut and sewn in Canada, but here is a breakdown of our manufacturing locations since we introduced apparel in 2019:

If local manufacturing is something you’re passionate about supporting, we’ve listed on every product page where each piece was made, as well as the fibre content and any textile certifications. Honest swimwear (and clothing) now and forevermore.