Meet the Business Owner: Dons Cooper from The Sew Good Company

AlburyCBD: Tell us a little about yourself. What’s something about you people might not know?

Dons: I’ve been in business for 30 years, starting out because I simply didn’t have enough money to look after my own children. We began in Woodend, then spent many years in Daylesford, and now we’re here in Albury. 

The Sew Good Company has helped build one of Cambodia’s largest free schools and the women who make our clothes are the parents of the children who attend.

AlburyCBD: Tell us about the business. What’s your why, and what do you love about running your business?

Dons: Our why is simple. To create beautiful, ethical clothing and support women and families. I love knowing our store helps people lead better lives. We focus on honesty and making sure everyone involved is known and valued.

Everything in our store is made by the people we know, and nothing is bought from other suppliers. I wanted to move away from false claims about ethical production, so I can proudly say that after three decades, not one item in my store is from China. 

The Sew Good Company is about women working so their children can live. Supporting parents with fair work means they can nurture their families. What started as a way to care for my own kids has grown into something bigger.

AlburyCBD: What’s a challenge you’ve had to overcome in business?

Dons: After years of success in Daylesford, coming to Albury has felt like starting from scratch. Some days, it’s tough. Foot traffic is low and it’s easy to worry that people won’t find us or aren’t interested. 

I’m old school and online advertising is a real challenge for me. But we never come across a challenge we can’t overcome. We’ve brought someone onto our team to help with digital marketing and storytelling.

Every business has its hurdles, but being a bloody good hard worker keeps us going.

AlburyCBD: What do you love about being in the Albury CBD?

Dons: I really like Albury. I want to be part of the town. The people who visit are genuine and care about what we’re doing. They stop for a chat and show real support, saying they hope we’ll last because they want ethical fashion here. 

It’s a slower pace that lets me connect with customers and share the story behind our clothes. I don’t want to let them down, and I believe there are more people out there who care just as much.

You can visit The Sew Good Company at Shop 2/497 Dean Street, Albury.

Some answers have been lightly edited for flow and clarity.