In a first for cotton growers, a range of shirts manufactured using Australian cotton and endorsed by Cotton Australia will be available in retail outlets from May 1.
Ritemate Workwear general manager David Mair said the Pilbara Collection was a journey more than 12 months in the making.
"We embarked on a mission to manufacture solely Australian cotton shirts and worked with Cotton Australia," Mr Mair said.
"To establish a supply line and traceability of the cotton is quite an intensive process."
Included in the certification process are invoices, certificates of origin, a list of bale numbers and photographic evidence of the bales in spinning mills in offshore facilities.
The shirts are manufactured in China and imported back to Australia as a finished product.
Mr Mair said the Pilbara Collection is all about supporting regional areas where most of Ritemate Workwear's clients are based.
He said the parent company was established in 1977 and was originally a textile company, manufacturing Australian made fabrics to clothing manufacturers.
"From the mid 1990s fabric manufacturing declined in Australia and moved offshore," Mr Mair said.
"It was at the same time that we made the transition and moved into garment manufacturing.
"It was due to the mining boom in 2006 we established the high visibility range Ritemate Workwear."
The Pilbara Collection came next and the two innovative and diverse brands have rapidly expanded in the Australian market.
Mr Mair said when the company first heard about the opportunity to use Australian grown cotton it made a lot sense to them.
The first shipment of 20,000 Pilbara shirts have been produced while another 20,000 are on the production line to meet supply and demand requirements.
These shirts are clearly labeled and feature the Cotton Australia logo, which is attached to the garment
- David Mair
"These shirts are clearly labeled and feature the Cotton Australia logo, which is attached to the garment," he said.
"Australian cotton is ideal as the type of of cotton grown here producers a long fibre.
"It is a softer fibre that is more comfortable to wear and softer on the skin."
The latest range of Pilbara shirts have larger pockets to accommodate any sized mobile phone and pocket book.
It comes with a reinforced yoke to sustain weight in the pockets.
The range is ideal for casual wear, work and corporate garments for both men and women.
It comes in a range of colours including cobalt blue, the very popular emerald green, navy and hot pink.
"Styling, fit and fabric performance are key features in the Pilbara collection," Mr Mair said.
As the wholesalers, Ritemate will supply independent retailers in regional centres.
"We are supporting farmers in regional areas, and not just the farm, but the local district," he said.
"This is our way of giving back and supporting regional areas where most of our clients are based."