Honest conversations with the people building British-made brands. Hear how they started, the challenges they’ve faced, and what it really takes to grow a product-based business in the UK.
Diana Kakkar runs a high end, small batch manufacturing unit in East London. She works with some well-known fashion designers as well as start-ups, helping them to produce their collections. Diana has some great tips for anyone wanting to understand […]
Peter Grey is new business manager for Just Elegant – a garment manufacturer in Leicester. In this episode he gives an interesting insight from a manufacturer’s perspective into how the garment industry in Leicester has changed over the last few
Natalie Riachi has a real passion for slow fashion, and good quality luxury clothing that is well made. She grew up in Scotland and studied knitwear in Galashiels, where the knitwear industry was once a large part of the local
Lance Mitchell from weavers Mitchell Interflex discusses the promising future of the UK woven textile industry. Lance’s family business was established in 1907, and now has a fifth general family member working for them. From a picturesque mill dating back to
In this episode I interview Peter Philips of Abbey England about his family business based in Walsall – the heart of the saddlery industry. Peter gives some great insights, not just into the leather and saddlery industry, but into the UK
Starting a British-made brand is a big undertaking. Isabella Ugochukwu has done just that, and in this episode shares her advice on launching, and growing, a premium British-made leather goods brand. I’ve known Isabelle for several years now and I’ve watched
Kalopsia Collective is a social enterprise run by Adam Robertson and his wife Nina Falk. They do small batch manufacturing for designers and printmakers and in a simple and transparent way. Their aim is to create a sustainable alternative to
Bianca Elgar is a print designer, and founder and creative director of the Bianca Elgar brand. I first met Bianca not long after I founded Make it British, when she came to me looking with help to develop her first
Martin Lowe describes himself as ‘The Bald Headed Sock Seller’ – but he’s much more than that. His family business – Roy Lowe & Sons, which he runs with his brother Tim – produces socks for some of the most well
Why is swimwear so difficult to make when the products look so simple? This is one of the questions that I put to guest Paul Smithers from Halcyon Blue, a swimwear manufacturer based in Hampshire, UK. Paul fell into manufacturing
