The Government has just released its latest National Procurement Policy Statement, with promises to give SMEs and social enterprises a better chance at winning public contracts. Sounds great doesn’t it? But having been at the coal face of trying to […]
Every brand featured below is part of my British Brand Accelerator programme, where I’ve worked closely with these incredible small businesses to help bring their products to life. When you choose to buy something from one of these brands you
Anna & Tom, co-founders of Dog Forbid with their dog Angus The challenge: Making everything inhouse and struggling to keep up with demand Anna and Tom, co-founders of Dog Forbid, are passionate about creating authentic dog gear, carefully crafted with
Play Video Got a cost price you’re not happy with – this might be why! It’s the £64 million question! Is social media enough these days? Or should you be paying for ads? Having a fantastic product and sticking them
Play Video How do you drive website sales when you’ve just launched a new product business? It’s the £64 million question! Is social media enough these days? Or should you be paying for ads? Having a fantastic product and sticking
Helen King is the founder of Blue Eyes Bow Ties The challenge of scaling a handmade brand Helen, the founder of Blue Eyes Bow Ties, had spent 7 years growing her business, offering a constantly changing collection of smart, quirky,
Parasol Insure offers specialist A-rated business insurance cover for the UK textile industry. In this masterclass especially for Make it British members, Tony Gutteridge from Parasol Insure explains everything you need to know about the insurance cover your textile business
Britain has fallen out of the top ten manufacturing nations for the first time since the Industrial Revolution according to analysis by manufacturer trade body Make UK. We’re now in twelfth place behind Germany, Italy and France. In this interview
Kate Hills, founder of Make it British, in a UK garment factory This article explores the common reasons why brands might hesitate to manufacture locally and aims to debunk these myths, offering a fresh perspective on the untapped potential of
We need to talk about BooHoo, and what they have done to the garment making industry in Leicester… Buckle up, this is not a pleasant ride. At its peak, BooHoo was making 1.5 MILLION garments a week in Leicester. Yes,
Make it British has been championing UK manufacturing and local sourcing since 2011. As someone who has over 30 years experience as a designer and fashion buyer working with both local and global supply chains in the fashion industry, to
On the 31st January 2024, Make it British, along with Fashion Roundtable, hosted an industry-focused roundtable discussion with Baroness Jane Bonham-Carter – the Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson for Culture Media and Sport, as well as the Liberal Democrat Creative Network and
If you’re looking to work with a UK manufacturer Make it British can help. I’ve been developing my network of UK manufacturing contacts for over 15 years, and maintaining these valuable relationships is a priority for me. This is why
In the world of clothing, various studies have shown that a “Made in the UK” label can be of great value to a brand. It symbolises quality, craftsmanship, and a commitment to ethical practices. However, recent events at BooHoo have
If you’re a small business that makes in the UK, have you thought about selling your products on pre-order? More and more small businesses are now operating on a pre-order basis because it not only helps with cash flow, but
In this video I answer the question ‘What funds should I put aside for production costs? And how long should I allow from order to completion on average? This video is a snippet taken from a taster coaching Q&A session
I constantly have people telling me, “I can get X made much cheaper overseas than in the UK.” Yes, that might be true, and the allure of a lower cost-price from overseas can seem tempting initially. However, for small businesses,
Make it British is looking for a part-time Community Manager Are you an outgoing and organised person with a passion for building meaningful connections? Do you want to work part-time in a flexible role with a small and agile team?
Make it British is looking for a Marketing & Design Executive – could it be you? Are you an enthusiastic person who delights in creating engaging imagery and wonderful words? Do you want to work part-time in a flexible role
When it comes to getting products made, sometimes things go wrong. It’s a fact. The trick is to know how to handle it and put it right. When I worked as a fashion buyer, a big part of my job
Last week I was invited to a meeting at the Houses of Parliament organised by Fashion Roundtable to talk about the current landscape for UK fashion and textile manufacturers, and what key challenges they face in the next five years.
We all know that getting enough sleep is the key to a healthy lifestyle. Making an investment in your mattress and bedding not only provides better comfort, but is also more likely to last! Did you know that there are
The pandemic and Brexit have changed the way that UK consumers shop, with over two thirds now more likely to buy UK-made products than ever before, according to a survey by Make it British to mark Made in UK Day
Making in the UK has so many benefits, from being able to react quickly to customer demand to having a low carbon footprint. But it’s important to make sure you choose the right manufacturer for your particular business—or it may
Choosing organic fabrics for our clothing is becoming increasingly popular in the UK as more people become aware of the benefits of sustainable fashion choices. There is a growing trend for organic fabrics for our clothing in the UK, with
Our founder, Kate Hills, and members of Make it British, were quoted in The Sun business section this week in an article about firms bringing their production back to the UK. We should see more goods made in the UK
In a world where everyone is different, it’s so important that brands create clothing and products that can be adapted to different body types and needs! Adaptive clothing and accessible product brands are making it easier for everyone to find
Cheap clothing does not always work out cheaper in the long run. Save money on clothing by buying UK-made. We show you how.
UK clothing brands are renowned for their quality and style. Whether you’re looking for classic staples like jeans and a shirt or something more daring, these brands are all made in the UK. There are so many reasons to buy
Leather in the UK has long had an association with high quality and lasting a lifetime. We’re celebrating this truly beautiful and sustainable material by bringing you our list of the best British leather goods, bags, and accessories brands. According
Commemorate this momentous occasion and pick up a truly British gift worthy of our monarch. All of the best Platinum Jubilee merchandise is made in Britain! With the Queen’s Royal Jubilee Bank Holiday coming up, we expect many street parties
Are you looking for a UK clothing manufacturers for your small business or start-up? Look no further than within the UK. When it comes to sourcing a clothing manufacturers for small business there are a whole host of reasons why
Julie Deane CBE is the founder of The Cambridge Satchel Company, which manufactures all its bags in the UK. I chatted to Julie on Made in UK Day to talk about why the Cambridge Satchels are made in the UK, and
Looking to buy UK-made goods? You’re not alone. According to a 2022 survey by Make it British, demand for UK-made products has surged in the wake of the pandemic and Brexit with 69% of UK consumers saying they are more
It’s so fantastic to see new products come to fruition 😊 I’ve been helping Rosie (+ Winnie, her miniature Dachshund ) to create this innovative new dog car seat – and it has just launched! Rosie joined my coaching programme
Have you sent an email to a manufacturer and not got a reply? I outline the 3 common reasons why you may not have heard back, and how to make sure you get manufacturers to respond to your emails. One
In December 2020 The Express newspaper ran a ‘Brilliantly British’ campaign shining a light on UK-made firms. Dozens of Make it British members were among them… Over a period of two weeks, the Express newspaper is encouraging its readers to
Webinar Replay Wouldn’t it be great if the UK textile industry could create less waste, increase sales and become more profitable? Local manufacturing is an increasing focus for brands and designers looking for a fast turnaround on products that don’t
Clothing factories in Leicester have been in the news again recently for under-paying workers making clothes for Boohoo. It gives UK manufacturing a bad name – and it has to stop. Make it British has been following the growth of
Thousands more textile workers are needed to meet the increasing demand for locally made clothing and textiles. Lobbying organisation Fashion Roundtable is working on a solution – but they need your help There has been a huge shift towards manufacturing
Whilst orders are now coming through for PPE made in the UK this only covers the next few months. What is the long term solution? If you’ve been listening to the Make it British podcast over the last few weeks
I was interviewed on BBC Breakfast on 19th April 2020 about the nationwide shortage of PPE. In the interview I discussed why we needed to make Personal Protective Equipment in the UK and how I was in discussion with the
Make it British surveyed UK fashion and textile manufacturers to find out if they have seen any impact to their business as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak. Many factories in China, where a large proportion of the world’s fashion
More and more these days brands are setting up their own factories in order to take control of their own production. Make it British member Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing is one such brand. Founder Paul Brown tells us about his
Christopher Nieper, MD of David Nieper awarded OBE in Queen’s New Year Honours 💯 Congratulations to this man – Christopher Nieper, MD of clothing manufacturer David Nieper – who has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours
There are many things that can influence your manufacturing costs. Here’s what they are – and how to mitigate them. When you ask a manufacturer how much something is going to cost right at the start of a conversation with
How is the cost of clothing in stores calculated? Ever wondered how big retailers work out the price of clothing you see in stores? Is it genuinely related to how much it costs to manufacture? Or do they make up
There’s barely any manufacturing left in the UK, everyone works in the service industry instead, right? Wrong! Due to the outdated way that the Government looks at statistics, we are all being led to believe that manufacturing contributes just a
Fashion Roundtable, the independent think tank which campaigns for fashion to have a voice in parliament, has issued a warning on how Brexit delays and the current political landscape are impacting UK fashion brands and manufacturers. Tamara Cincik, founder of Fashion
Lack of manufacturers represented at the Government’s review of the sustainability of the UK fashion industry is very telling – what can be done to give them more of a voice? Last week the UK Government released its interim report
Do you know what materials you need to produce your product? Thought the manufacturer would do this for you? Depending on whether they are a Full-Service or CMT manufacturer, this is not always the case. In this article I explain the
