Sustainability
We're a small brand with a clear point of view: the things we make for the ones we love should be made well, sourced responsibly, and built to last.
It was Jessi's own footage — filmed on a trip through the recycling districts of Mumbai — that made her want to produce differently. Watching skilled workers sort the world's plastics by hand, turning waste into something useful again, made excess feel inexcusable.
We don't hold excess stock. Our brass tags, luxe leather pieces, and companion jewellery are produced in small batches or made to order wherever possible. We work with considered materials including vegetable-tanned leather, solid brass, and gold PVD-plated stainless steel — chosen for longevity and everyday wear.
Not fast. Not disposable. Not for everyone. Made for the ones who know the difference.
Sourced with purpose.
We source our leather from Italy. Not by accident, by choice. Italy has been tanning leather for centuries, and the craft, the standards, and the environmental regulation are unmatched. Vegetable tanning uses natural plant-based tannins, not harsh chemicals. Italian tanneries are the most regulated in the world, which means a traceable, ethical supply chain. Every material chosen because it lasts, and the most sustainable product is one you never have to replace.
Cut to order. Zero excess.
Overproduction is the fashion industry's biggest sustainability problem. We don't have that problem. Every leather collar and lead is cut, punched, and finished by Jessi's hands after you place your order. Nothing sitting unsold. Nothing made on a guess. Made-to-order means less waste, a lower carbon footprint, and a product made with enough care to last. Even the offcuts don't go to waste — leather scraps are kept and reused in The Signature Collection.
We're deliberate. Always.
Sustainability, for us, isn't a marketing position. It's just how we work. Every order is packaged with sustainable choices in mind — no excess tissue, no branded filler. Everything we make is designed to be kept. Worn in, not worn out. We'd rather make fewer things that mean something than many things that don't. With landfill and global waste at a tipping point, every deliberate choice — however small — matters. We're not perfect. But we're always looking for ways to do better.
Made with intention.
Every piece starts with a question: is this worth making? The Darling Collar started with Frankie. Jessi noticed her collab collar's leather being spoiled on summer beach trips and knew there had to be a better way. BPA-free, food-grade silicone beads on a stainless steel wire core, splash-proof and corrosion-resistant. A collar that lasts longer is a collar that doesn't need replacing. Less waste. Longer life. That's intentional design.
Brass. Built to last.
Brass is 100% recyclable, endlessly, without losing quality. Recycling it conserves natural resources, uses significantly less energy than producing new brass, and keeps waste out of landfill. We chose it for our tags because it's better. Better for your dog, better for the planet, and better looking with every passing year. Every tag engraved by Jessi in-studio, only after you order. Nothing made in advance. Nothing wasted. Made once. Kept forever.
Small runs. No restocks.
Every piece that leaves Mad & Darling passes through Jessi's hands. Small batches, less stock, less waste, more control. Supporting local is part of how we keep our footprint small. Everything assembled in Jessi's Melbourne home studio. Our artist-collaborated pieces are produced in very small numbers. Once they're gone, they're gone, if you find one you love, snap it up. These aren't mass-produced. They were never meant to be.