Founder Stories

Learn from the best British brands and find out how they’ve successfully built their businesses in the UK.

Laura Ward Exeat

268 – From Start-Up to Export Champion with Laura Ward from Exeat

In this episode, I am joined by Laura Ward, founder of the luxury British tennis brand Exeat.

Exeat is the UK’s most exported luxury tennis apparel brand, and Laura herself is the winner of many awards, including Global Startup of the Year. She’s also one of the government’s UK export champions, and the brand has been feature in Vogue, Forbes, The Financial Times, and Vanity Fair.

In this episode, she’s going to give you tips on how to export your brand globally and how she’s managed to get such amazing press in such a short space of time.

242 - How this Childrenswear Designer Pivoted From Bespoke to Ready-to-Wear - Dawn Clarke, Dawn Clarke Designs_Make it British Podcast

242 – From Bespoke to Ready-to-Wear – Dawn Clarke

In this episode, I chat with childrenswear designer Dawn Clarke, who is a member of Make It British and a part of our British Brand Accelerator programme. Dawn tells us all about her journey going from making everything in-house and

235 - The Make it British Podcast Kate Hills with Emma Mathews, Graham Holbrook and Dr John Parkinson

235 – Spinning a Good Yarn

Find out about an exciting recycled cashmere collaboration between three UK businesses. Dr. John Parkinson from iinouiio, Graham Holbrook from Turtle Doves, and Emma Mathews from Socko, share how the project came about, the importance of making in the UK

213 The Make it British Podcast Kate Hills - Chris Kyriacou, Soma Sportswear

213 – How to Launch an Athleisure Brand Made in the UK

In this episode, I chat with Chris Kyriacou, founder of activewear brand Soma Sportswear. Chris contacted me in 2019, looking for help to find manufacturers to make his very unique athleisurewear. In this episode, Chris talks through the process of

209 The Make it British Podcast Kate Hills - Shanna Bent

209 – Running a Brand Championing Diversity, Shanna Bent

Shanna Bent is the founder of the conscious fashion brand Maison Bent. Having previously worked with Alexander McQueen, Roland Mouret, Agent Provocateur, in 2019 Shanna set up her own luxury label, with a determination to bust the myth that black

The importance of quality Maria Grachvogel podcast

197 – The Importance of Quality – Maria Grachvogel

London-based designer Maria Grachvogel is renowned for her clever use of cutting to flatter the female figure. In this interview, Maria talks about why she has chosen to use more UK manufacturers for her collection, and how changing her business model

English Fine Cottons Andy Ogden Podcast episode

195 – Made in Britain Starts Here – Andy Ogden

One of our epidode’s from the very first series that is well worth a revisit is this one with Andy Ogden at English Fine Cottons. Greater Manchester was once known as cottonopolis because it was the home to the world’s

why you should invest in uk-made clothing

145 – Revisited: James Eden, Private White V.C.

How do UK manufacturers and brands compete with huge overseas factories and the likes of Black Friday discounting? In this episode, I revisit an interview I did back in 2018 which is still very relevant today. It’s a ‘no holds

Celtic and co, the original sheepskin business

143 – Kath Whitworth, Celtic & Co

Based in Cornwall in the South West of England, Celtic & Co is the original sheepskin boot company. Kath Whitworth and her husband Nick bought the business 30 years ago and trademarked the UGG boot in the UK. In this

Cambridge satchel company, building a great British brand

142 – Julie Deane OBE, Cambridge Satchel Company

Julie Deane OBE, set up the Cambridge Satchel Company in 2008 with £600 and went on to make it a global, multi-million pound business. But behind the success story, there was a lot of hard work, including having to set

the importance of quality

122 – The Importance of Quality – Maria Grachvogel

London-based designer Maria Grachvogel is renowned for her clever use of cutting to flatter the female figure. In this interview Maria talks about why she has chosen to use more UK manufacturers for her collection, and how changing her business model

silk weaving in Suffolk

107 – Silk Weaving in Suffolk – Laura Gore, Vanners

Vanners is one of the oldest textile businesses in the UK. They’ve been weaving silk since 1740, and moved their weaving business from London to Suffolk in the late 18th Century. In this interview I speak to Laura Gore, Vanners

how to crowdfund your brand

094 – How to crowdfund your brand – Sophie Slater, Birdsong

How can you grow a clothing brand sustainably and ethically? In this interview I speak to the inspiring Sophie Slater from Birdsong who work with women’s organisations and charities to make thoughtful clothes in inclusive sizes. 50% of Birdsong profits

made in uk clothing hit by huge US tariffs

093 – Made in UK Clothing Hit by Huge US Tariffs

From 18th October 2019 many UK-made clothing items exported to the US will face tariffs of 25% In this episode I discuss what items are affected and what this means for British brands that manufacture in the UK. Stay in

inside a footwear factory

088 – A Visit to a Footwear Factory – Crown Northampton

Join me on a tour round Crown Northampton’s footwear factory In this episode I chat to Chris Woodford, owner of Chancery Footwear, the factory which makes the Crown Northampton collection, and Mark Higgs, brand manager for Crown Northampton. Launched only

never give up on trying to find a supplier

086 – Pippa Dziubinski, The Little Art Collection

When Pippa Dziubinski started a business making printed bamboo baby muslins 2 years ago one of the most important things was being able to make the product in the UK. But she faced many of the same struggles that other

a visit to Duchess China & Heraldic Pottery

084 – A Visit to Duchess China and Heraldic Pottery

A trip to Stoke-on-Trent this week to visit one of the last remaining potteries. I meet Andy Tooth and Jason Sims, owners of Heraldic Pottery, a company which bespoke prints fine bone china and glassware for designers and illustrators. More

the queen's button maker

077 – Tony Kelly, Firmin & Sons – The Queen’s Button Maker

Join me on a factory tour around the Her Majesty The Queen’s button maker. Established in 1655, Firmin & Sons are the oldest, privately-owned manufacturing company in the UK. At their prestigious metalworks in Birmingham they make not only buttons, but also

100% made in England

072 Live! – Tom Glover, Peregrine – 100% Made in England

Tom Glover is from a family manufacturing business originally founded in Wigston in Leicester in 1796. He graduated with a degree in product design, and used his design skills to create the Peregrine clothing brand. He knew that the way forward

support on the inside, support on the outside

070 Live! – Barbara Burton, Behind Bras

There are around 3,800 women in UK prisons at any one time and only one in ten are able to get a job when they leave. It costs £46,000 a year to put women in prison in the UK –

how mass customisation & innovation are keeping skills alive

064 Live! – Kate Dawson, The All in One Company

Kate Dawson is the founder of the All in One Company which celebrates its 10th year in 2019. In this inspiring and moving talk Kate tells of the highs and lows of founding the UK’s original onesie company.  Made entirely

creating the perfect coat

035 – Katherine Hooker – Creating the Perfect Coat

Katherine Hooker started her business with one garment and has been perfecting it ever since In this episode designer Katherine Hooker tells the story of how she took a garment from her wardrobe that she loved, and turned it into