This is the UK’s dedicated feed of news from clothing and footwear brands that manufacture here. We gather collection launches, factory and mill stories, and industry coverage from brand blogs, RSS feeds and a handful of trusted sources, then publish it in one place.
3 July 2019Awling
From his Scottish base, Kestin Hare’s eponymous fashion brand champions UK manufacturing on an international stage Founder of Kestin Hare After working for people like Nigel Cabourn and Margaret Howell, Kestin Hare relocated back to Scotland to set up on his own menswear brand focussing on functional design with a
2 July 2019Herring Shoes
There are few shoes in our range that are classier and more classic than a Knightsbridge. However, even an old favourite needs an upgrade from time to time. A black Oxford, the Knightsbridge is…
19 June 2019Pajotten
When we started Pajotten we didn't set out on some huge crusade to make an environmental difference (honestly that's not possible - fashion is environmentally damaging - if you can, buy second hand), we were simply trying to create a brand, designing, making and selling the clothes we like to wear. The word sustainable
21 May 2019Foxology
It’s incredible and a relief seeing how fast the world is waking up to the seriousness of climate change in the last few years, with, amazingly (or not), posts on Instagram tagged #sustainablefashion now topping out at 2.8 million! Katherine Hamnett first woke me up to the impact of fashion on the environment nearly 2 decades ago and I have since worked with Fairtrade and Organic cotton farmers and manufacturers in India and Egypt, producing collections of knitwear and homewares, including the organic cotton spa products for the British company Lush. However, cotton is one of those fibres that has recently been getting a lot of bad press for its apparent huge water consumption. But is this actually true? The cotton plant is a xerophyte, meaning it can grow under very dry conditions, hence being found in countries with hot, dry climates such as India, Egypt and Africa. As with most plants, it needs water at certain points in its growing cycle and especially for producing higher yields – so farmers use artificial water irrigation. More recently, cotton producers have been researching and using new technologies, leading to a huge increase in the efficiency of water irrigation, producing significantly more cotton, using less water. Brands are also getting their acts together on this issue with the likes of Spanish fashion company Mango, who have realised production and finishing processes accounted for 90 percent of water consumption of their products being manufactured. They have introduced new technologies in the production of the SS19 season jeans, cutting down water use by up to 10 litres per garment. In collaboration with the company Jeanologia, the consumption of water, energy and chemicals for these jeans has now been reduced through the introduction of ECOWASH technology. Being mindful of this environmental issue and doing my own research, I have decided that organic cotton is still better than using oil based fabrics and have been back working with organic and Fairtrade projects in India and Egypt. I am very excited to be launching new styles and products to Foxology customers this summer, in organic fair traded cotton and knitted in UK. The first pieces to be introduced, are using fibres grown by Sekem Foundation in Egypt, spun into yarns by Italian spinners Filmar, as part of their Cotton For Life project. This is a very special and exciting project, of which I am very proud that Foxology is fortunate to have the opportunity to support. I will be visiting Sekem again and the spinners this summer, to bring you back more information and photos!! So, watch this space!
13 May 2019Mackenzie and George
There’s no hiding our love of fedoras. We sell five different colours, in four different sizes… and we sell a lot of feather brooches with our fedoras too! We feel that a fedora is a key part of any outdoor outfit, making them great for events, the races… or just time out and about in the countryside.
12 May 2019Awling
A visit to a tailoring house sparked a passion that helped focus this Italian fashion entrepreneur's future Founder of The Bespoke Dudes Co-founder of TBD Eye wear.
9 May 2019Gushlow & Cole
We celebrate each of our craftspeople by sewing their name into each piece and today we caught up with Carol to share the history of her make.
1 May 2019Gushlow & Cole
To help ease into a spring summer wardrobe this season, we’ve put together our list of hacks on how to master transeasonal dressing.
26 April 2019Kate Sheridan
Unless you've been on a deserted beach somewhere I am sure you are aware it is the brilliant fashion revolution week. As a small brand we are passionate about our manufacturing and wanted to share with you the wonderful makers that work with us to produce our collections and have helped make Kate Sheridan the brand that it is today. Ida my amazing right hand lady, and myself design all our collections from our Hackney based shop and studio. We welcome visitors at anytime and depending on when you visit you will find us busy designing or making our leathergoods! We hand make all our small leathergoods inhouse, Planthangers, Lou and Loux Wallets, Belts, Lanyards/Keyrings and much more. I am passionate about leatherwork and we train all our retail team up to be able to work with leather and have the knowledge to pass onto our customers. Let me introduce you to our other makers, first up: Hannah I have worked with this amazing lady for over 8 years, through three different factories and her setting up on her own. She is an absolute joy to work with and a talented leatherworker. For many years our studios were door to door which made for a close understanding and complete transparency. Hannah has a close eye for detail and is brilliant at making our fanciful designs come to life. Amy I have known Amy for a super long time also (the leather world is a small place!) She worked in the first ever factory that I used to manufacturer my bags, right here in East London. Now she has moved to the countryside and set up her own little workshop. Amy is organised and efficient like nobody else I know. Not easily fazed, she really stepped up when we got our first and quite sizable order from lovely stockist Toast. Jags Team In the photo as well as some of Jags team who are based in London are Hannah and her assistant, Ida and myself. Jag has a leather wholesale business and well as a workshop. Here some of our leather bags are made but we also we hire his equipment so you will often find us hanging out here gossiping and having cups of tea (thanks to chief teamaker the lovely Sue!) Kulvinders Team I have worked with Kulvinder for over 15 years, his talented team produce our waxed cotton ranges made from British Millerain and Halley Stephenson cloth. Kulvinder previously worked with my dad, who was in the design and manufacturing trade for many years also, and so he came highly recommended! I still remember my first visit to his amazing factory in New Delhi with both my parents and sister coming along on a family trip. Kulvinder is a seasoned hand bag maker and a has been a key part of my brand over the years. Finally meet Upenders Team. This brilliant team based in the North of England make all of our clothing. We have worked together for 8 glorious years. Upender himself is a rare treat - a hilarious man who often starts an email with a joke and who can keep you on the phone chatting for a good half hour before we remember we should really be working. Along with his team, he keeps our standard high and dungaree wearing customers happy. Full of advice and manufacturing wisdom, Upender has been a wonderful resource over the years as we expanded from handbags to the world of apparel.
26 April 2019Kate Sheridan
Unless you've been on a deserted beach somewhere I am sure you are aware it is the brilliant fashion revolution week. As a small brand we are passionate about our manufacturing and wanted to share with you the wonderful makers that work with us to produce our collections and have helped make Kate Sheridan the brand that it is today. Ida my amazing right hand lady, and myself design all our collections from our Hackney based shop and studio. We welcome visitors at anytime and depending on when you visit you will find us busy designing or making our leathergoods! We hand make all our small leathergoods inhouse, Planthangers, Lou and Loux Wallets, Belts, Lanyards/Keyrings and much more. I am passionate about leatherwork and we train all our retail team up to be able to work with leather and have the knowledge to pass onto our customers. Let me introduce you to our other makers, first up: Hannah I have worked with this amazing lady for over 8 years, through three different factories and her setting up on her own. She is an absolute joy to work with and a talented leatherworker. For many years our studios were door to door which made for a close understanding and complete transparency. Hannah has a close eye for detail and is brilliant at making our fanciful designs come to life. Amy I have known Amy for a super long time also (the leather world is a small place!) She worked in the first ever factory that I used to manufacturer my bags, right here in East London. Now she has moved to the countryside and set up her own little workshop. Amy is organised and efficient like nobody else I know. Not easily fazed, she really stepped up when we got our first and quite sizable order from lovely stockist Toast. Jags Team In the photo as well as some of Jags team who are based in London are Hannah and her assistant, Ida and myself. Jag has a leather wholesale business and well as a workshop. Here some of our leather bags are made but we also we hire his equipment so you will often find us hanging out here gossiping and having cups of tea (thanks to chief teamaker the lovely Sue!) Kulvinders Team I have worked with Kulvinder for over 15 years, his talented team produce our waxed cotton ranges made from British Millerain and Halley Stephenson cloth. Kulvinder previously worked with my dad, who was in the design and manufacturing trade for many years also, and so he came highly recommended! I still remember my first visit to his amazing factory in New Delhi with both my parents and sister coming along on a family trip. Kulvinder is a seasoned hand bag maker and a has been a key part of my brand over the years. Finally meet Upenders Team. This brilliant team based in the North of England make all of our clothing. We have worked together for 8 glorious years. Upender himself is a rare treat - a hilarious man who often starts an email with a joke and who can keep you on the phone chatting for a good half hour before we remember we should really be working. Along with his team, he keeps our standard high and dungaree wearing customers happy. Full of advice and manufacturing wisdom, Upender has been a wonderful resource over the years as we expanded from handbags to the world of apparel.
26 April 2019Benson & Clegg
This month, The Journal is in conversation with Benson & Clegg’s trouser maker, Daniel Kozyra. He discusses how his passion for menswear began at an early age, his route into the trade, and the many influences that have helped define his own unique style of tailoring. Looking through Daniel’s extensive archives is
26 April 2019Herring Shoes
With so-called fast fashion contributing more to climate change than air and sea travel, Herring Shoes is proud to have been a dedicated supporter of ‘slow fashion’ since our inception in 1966. Not only…
26 April 2019Peregrine Clothing
[full] [/full] What is fashion revolution week? Fashion Revolution Week is a campaign set up by the charity Fashion Revolution. This year it falls on the anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh. During this week brands and producers are being encouraged to show their transparency by using the hashtag #imadeyourclothes. What does fashion revolution do? Fashion Revolution is a non-profit global movement based in over 100 countries around the world. They aim to transform the fashion industry with a focus on transparency in the fashion supply chain. With the main question being ‘Who Made My Clothes?’ Peregrine – Our story Here at Peregrine we are incredibly proud of our history. Thomas Glover started the family run business in 1796 in Leicestershire. The manufacturing company J.G.Glover has been passed down through eight generations of the Glover Family. “Every Friday Thomas would travel into Leicester on a horse and cart to collect the spun wool from Montfort knitting mill before taking it back to Wigston to knit it up into jumpers” [full] [/full] Peregrine Clothing was established as a brand in 1956 as a separate entity from the manufacturing business. It is still very much a family brand, Tom Glover, current managing director and designer took over the company in 2003 looking to revitalize the brand during what were challenging times for British clothing manufacturers. Every step from the very first design to the finishing stitch has been executed here in the UK and we are extremely proud of this. We can control everything about the garment production from start to finish and we have a close working relationship with the team at our Manchester based factory. We want our customers to be excited about where their clothing comes from. [columns] [column] [/column] [column] Here at Peregrine we are truly passionate about where are clothes are made and we are proud to have always been manufactured in England and have no plans to change that! [/column] [/columns]
22 April 2019Cherchbi
St. George’s Day 2019 marks the official release of the new True Heritage collection by Cherchbi.
15 April 2019Gushlow & Cole
Having come straight from school I had an idealised view of the fashion world. I admire it more now I understand the hard work and commitment thats required
9 April 2019Foxology
What is your water footprint? We know we can’t survive without it. We drink it, use it in cooking, wash with it, grow with it, we wear it, even our mobile phones need it! Without water we would cease to exist! And yet we waste it! Leave taps running when we wash our teeth, endless baths and washing of clothes that aren’t dirty! We know how many gallons(3,900 litres) it takes to make a T-shirt – Stacey Dooley has reminded us! I didn’t know, however, it takes 4 times that to produce a mobile phone (around 13,000 litres)!!! Table source: Friends of the Earth This water is not coming from our resources in the western world obviously, but from the water tables of the manufacturing hubs such as India, China, Mexico, Egypt or Brazil. These are some of the most water scarce countries on the planet, where environmental sustainability is not a priority, where clean water is not always accessible, is being used at a rate that cannot be replenished and what is available comes at a high price. There are billions living with water scarcity, freshwater ecosystems unable to sustain fish stocks, water crisis is now one of the highest ranked global risks! The top-10 clothing companies use over 2,800 billion litres of water a year – the equivalent of 1 million Olympic-size swimming pools. Of these top clothing brands, some are starting to react, such as H&M who are working with the Sweden Water Initiative, to better manage and reduce their water consumption throughout their supply chain. It is up to the consumer to vote with their wallets and not buy into brands and companies who are not doing something to reduce their water consumption throughout their value chains. Before you buy that new top or trainers, latest mobile phone, or even your weekly food shop, consider how your water footprint will grow with these purchases. Watch out for brands who take caring for water seriously. Check out what companies are doing to use water sustainably across their value chain by studying sustainability reports, we just need to do a bit of homework and find out who these companies are and what they are doing to reverse these troubling trends. Ref: QuartzNov/2018
8 April 2019Peregrine Clothing
With what started out as a practical piece of clothing for fishermen, the Aran jumper remains a practical and classic stable in our wardrobes. The Aran jumper started out a fisherman’s jumper and as you may have guessed, got its name from the Aran Islands. Aran jumpers were traditionally made using unscoured wool that still contained the sheep’s natural oils (lanolin). These natural oils made the jumper resistant to water – the ideal garment for a fisherman! Traditionally the jumpers are an off-white colour that has come straight from the sheep undyed. There is also an interesting history behind the different knitting patterns. Each knitting pattern has its own meaning. Cable Stitch The most popular and common knitting pattern is supposed to represent the fisherman’s rope and wearing it was mean to mean you would have a good day at sea. Honeycomb Stitch Signifying the bee – this pattern shows hard work and was a symbol of good luck The Diamond Stitch Signifying the fields of the Aran Islands and fishing nets. Zig Zag Stitch Represents the ups and downs of marriage and also the winding paths of the Aran Islands. We love our aran knits here at peregrine but we’re not the only ones. Take a look at some of these icons wearing their very own aran knits [full] [/full] [columns] [column] [/column] [column] [/column] [/columns]
4 April 2019Big Fox Apparel
Something that I keep on hearing is “I like what you have but I’m not paying £60 for a t shirt, that’s far too much!” I understand that, I truly do, and I don’t begrudge anyone not willing to spend that on a t shirt, I was one of those people too. The real problem…
2 April 2019Foxology
I am thrilled and proud to announce that Foxology has been awarded the Butterfly Mark for excellence in sustainability by Positive Luxury.I am equally encouraged that my efforts to be conscious and make conscious choices for people and planet are recognized and by such a prestigious organisation. After a rigorous assessment Foxology is honoured for its social and environmental sustainability. Founded in 2011, Positive Luxury champions luxury brands that positively impact people and planet. Positive Luxury provides transparency through the interactive Butterfly Mark whilst showcasing luxury brands’ positive actions and enabling people to buy better.To find out more about Foxology's sustainability achievements, visit its exclusive page on Positive Luxury: https://www.positiveluxury.com/brand/foxology/ or click on the Butterfly Mark. Positive Luxury awards the Butterfly Mark, a unique interactive trust mark, to luxury lifestyle brands in recognition of their commitment to having a positive impact on people and the planet, providing wordless reassurance that a brand can be trusted. Positive Luxury showcase Foxology and other luxury lifestyle brands who take pride in their craftsmanship, service and design, whilst caring for their employees and suppliers, working hard to protect our planet's people and resources. The Butterfly Mark Award is the sole trust mark that exists in the luxury industry today, synonymous with luxury brands that care.
29 March 2019Benson & Clegg
This month, The Journal is in conversation with Benson & Clegg’s Head Cutter and resident sartorial expert, Oliver Cross. He discusses his unusual journey into the trade, the launch of his inaugural ready to wear collection and the exciting times ahead at Benson & Clegg. Oliver’s route into tailoring was far fr
27 March 2019Herring Shoes
A seemingly unimportant question, but a welt is a big deal in the world of quality shoes and boots. Our photos show where a welt can be found in many of the shoes and boots we stock. In layman’s terms, it is a leather strip that is sewn around the edge of a shoe-upper to […]
24 March 2019Big Fox Apparel
Congratulations, you found us! Now who the fox are we and why should you buy from us? Currently we are a one-man operation; I do this in my spare time while I juggle a full time job. Standard office 9-5, soul sucking, boredom inducing job, but it pays the bills, so it’s not all complaints.…
22 March 2019Gushlow & Cole
With five different colours to choose from, our Toscana Shearling Shawl Scarves are the perfect gift to give this Mother’s Day.
15 March 2019Peregrine Clothing
[intro] We caught up with Laura from @girlaboutthefarm to find out more about women in the farming industry. [/intro] [full] [/full] What made you decide to give up your career in marketing to take on a farm. Was it a difficult decision to choose this life for yourself? I had been working in marketing for just under 10 years and I loved it, but I was leading a sort of double life at times due to working in the day and then coming home to Andy’s family farm (my now husband) in the evening to feed our pet pigs, take the dogs for a walk and help out with the sheep and cows! Most weekends were spent helping Andy on his parents farm and I loved it so much! At lambing I would book time off my full time job to help and when we saw this long term tenancy on The Cowdray Estate was up for tender I made the decision, that if we were successful that I would make the leap into full time farming alongside Andy! It was too good an opportunity for us not too! What do you notice about being a woman in agriculture that’s different from your male counterparts? This a tough one. Women have been farming alongside men for years gone by and they have played a vital role in farmlife. I’m lucky to have come into farming where there are more and more young females going into farming in their own right and not because of their families heritage. I think thats great, as, like in every industry, we need an equal balance as every individual brings new ideas to the table. [full] [/full] Do you think there’s more that could be done to encourage women to consider farming as a profession? Yes, it saddens me to think that I would have never got into farming if it weren’t for Andy, as actually, farming as a practical career really suits my skills. It wasn’t an option that was ever presented to me at school – it was a career that you did if your family were farmers. I think more needs to be done to promote farming as being a really great career choice – no matter your background or what sex you are. You’re very active on social media. What made you decide to incorporate social media into promoting your operation and telling the story of being a farmer? It just sort of evolved really, I started my blog as a way of documenting what I was up to on a daily basis for my friends and family to read, as they didn’t really have a clue – and why would they?! Then people started engaging and I realised that people loved to see what we were up to on a daily basis, whether it be moving large mobs of sheep up on the hill with the dogs – or feeding the cows. Social media became a way that I could easily share what we were doing each day and then just became second nature. [full] [/full] Do you have any advice for young women contemplating a career in agriculture? I would say, get out there and get experience – I can guarantee that most local farmers will always be looking for some help/someone to take on for work experience. Keep your enthusiasm and determination because it will pay off! Some of the best farmers I have met are first generation farmers, namely my in laws actually who started the sheep business from scratch – my mother in law worked in a bank back in the day – and during lambing, there is no one I would rather take advice from! She’s the best in her field (excuse the pun!). You have recently announced your pregnancy on social media – congratulations! Will you encourage your child to follow in your footsteps? Thank you, we are thrilled! A farm is just the best place for a child to grow up around – and I’m so excited to raise our children in the countryside! We’re happy for our children to make their own minds up! I wouldn’t care if they wanted nothing to do with the farm, but if they did, then that would be lovely too! Every farmers son or daughter I’ve met talks so fondly about growing up on the farm – and most of them still have involvement in their family farms now to this day – even if not full time! A huge thank you to Laura for catching up with us and giving such a great insight into the farming industry. Make sure to check out her blog – Girl about the farm and Instagram @girlabouthefarm for more brilliant photos and stories from the farm. Photos by the talented Kerry Jordan (@fur_and_fables)
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