What is Cotton On?
Cotton On is an Australian fashion retailer founded in Geelong, Victoria, in 1991 by Nigel Austin. It has grown into one of the country's largest clothing companies, with stores in many countries.
Nigel Austin started the business by selling denim jackets from the back of his car at markets. He opened the first Cotton On store in Geelong, and the brand quickly expanded across Australia.
Cotton On Group now operates several brands, including Cotton On, Cotton On Kids, Cotton On Body, Typo, Rubi, Supré and Factorie. It sells affordable, trend-focused clothing and accessories.
Going global
The company has expanded to countries in Asia, Africa, the Americas and the Middle East. It is one of the few Australian fashion retailers with a large international presence.
Cotton On remains privately owned and is still headquartered in Geelong. The company employs thousands of people in Australia and overseas.
The company has supported community programs through the Cotton On Foundation, which has funded education projects in Uganda and other countries. It has also faced criticism over labor conditions in supply chains, which is common in the fashion industry.
Did You Know?
Supré, a fashion brand for young women, was bought by Cotton On in 2013.