About Us
CORKSTORE is a sister business of James&Co and Earth Totes, evolving from James&Co’s original vision of offering stylish, sustainable, and cruelty-free fashion. Founded in 2012 as a B2C and B2B brand, James&Co initially focused on women's vegan faux leather jackets and accessories, combining fashion with sustainability and donating a portion of sales to Suicide Prevention Australia.
However, as awareness grew about the environmental impact of synthetic vegan leather, James&Co pivoted away from plastic-based materials and expanded its offerings beyond jackets to include broader fashion and lifestyle products.
Recognizing the potential of emerging plant-based fabrics, James&Co transitioned to a B2B model, introducing sustainable materials such as cork leather, washable paper, organic textiles like cotton and hemp, and soon, innovative tomato leather to the Australian market. However, adoption within relevant industries has been slow, leading to a strategic shift toward more distinct sustainable materials.
To refine its focus, James&Co restructured into three specialized brands:
- CORKSTORE – dedicated exclusively to cork-based products.
- Earth Totes – specializing in organic textile-based offerings.
- James&Co – continuing to offer premium, plant-based, plastic-free leather look products.
This strategic separation enables each brand to sharpen its niche, catering more effectively to sustainability-conscious consumers and businesses seeking eco-friendly alternatives in their respective product categories.
For some related reading, below are 2 books written and published by the founder of the James&Co businesses.
