The Make it British blog has been shining a (very bright but energy efficient) light on all-things-local since 2011.
You’ve visited a trade show and made some great contacts, then what? How to you make the most of those contacts and take your discussions further? Read on for our tips, and sample email, on how to follow-up after a […]
Jenni Sutton discusses the importance of technical knowledge and production skills to designers and start-up fashion brands. Fashion Enter is a large, ethical factory in North London, with a mission to support designers and train the next generation of fashion professionals.
What makes a fabric ethical? What does zero waste mean? What are the benefits of sourcing sustainable materials? Ethical textiles expert, Charlie Ross, talks us through the world of sustainable fabrics. With a Masters in menswear from the Royal College
Brand guru, Simon Middleton, shares his advice on how to gain investment for your start-up brand and the importance of professionalism. Simon Middleton is an entrepreneur and a brand expert. In this interview, which was done originally as a Facebook
We interview Patrick Morrison of Furious Goose to find out more about the brand that is disrupting the world of high-end accessories with a healthy streak of British eccentricity. Based in Brighton, Furious Goose products are designed using crisp vectors
Find out how Ruth Dent went from working in IT to becoming an artist and then turning that art into a printed scarf business Have you ever thought about having a career change because you wanted to follow your passion?
Do you need your product injection moulded but don’t know where to start? We went to injection moulding experts, Rutland Plastics, to find out how. Make it British are receiving more and more enquiries from designers about how and where
Isabelle Ugochukwu, founder and creative director of Isabella Queen, shares her personal experience and expertise on launching a British-made handbag business. Coming from a corporate background, Isabelle took the plunge to start her own luxury handbag business combining authentic craftsmanship
We visit Tiffany London, founder of British brands Tiffany Rose and Alie Street, to hear her advice on how you can build a successful relationship with a UK manufacturer How did you come up with the idea for Tiffany Rose’s
Martin Lowe shows us around his Nottinghamshire factory and discusses The SockMine’s aim to reshore their sock manufacturing Martin, thank you for showing me around your sock factory, can you tell me who started the business and why it’s called
Freed of London began making ballet shoes in London in the 1930s and continue to produce bespoke shoes for the world’s most prestigious dancers. We went behind the scenes to find out about how they make their shoes. Freed of
After spotting an article in Country life in 2013 calling for help to save the last remaining UK horn button manufacturer, commodities broker David Courtney felt he needed to do something. So he set about bringing natural button manufacturing back
As Clarks announces plans for a factory to bring its shoe production back to the UK, we look at why and how other retailers and brands can follow suit Shoemakers Clarks have announced that they will shortly be resuming the
Find out why Justine turned her back on corporate life to launch her eponymous label. What were the challenges? and what tips would she give others planning to do the same? Can you tell us a bit about your professional
Clothing manufacturers, bag makers, fabric mills, knitwear factories, a wool room and an enterprise room specially for small businesses…find it all at ‘Meet the Manufacturer 2017’ One of the questions that I most often get asked is: ‘Where can I find
A recent survey has shown what we suspected all along, that the ‘made in UK’ label is one of the most highly prized amongst shoppers In a recent global survey carried out by Statista, the UK was the 3rd highest
Setting up a British menswear brand is not without challenges, but quality rules over quantity, says Anthony & Brown founder Paul Brown Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background before Anthony & Brown was created? I have a
The Irish linen industry once employed over 40 percent of Northern Ireland’s working population, but sadly most of the mills have since closed down. I took a tour of Northern Ireland to visit some of the manufacturers still remaining in
Find out how wool is processed from fleece to fabric and why using British wool is important, as we chat to Laura Rosenzweig, the founder of Laura’s Loom. Laura, can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you
…and why Make it British is not affiliated with any other ‘made in Britain’ campaigns… I was recently contacted by a web developer, prospecting for some business. His pitch was that he’d been through the code on the Make it
Founder and creative director of Isabella Queen, Isabelle Ugochukwu, on how she launched her luxury British handbag brand, life after Brexit, and what her top tips are for others launching a similar business Isabelle, can you firstly give our readers a brief
We chat to Justin Hall, chief executive of UK sock manufacturer Pantherella about their long history, their Leicester factory and their exciting future Pantherella are a world renowned brand manufacturing fine English socks and hosiery from their Leicester factory. Their
Is Britain really going to be spinning cotton again? Yes it is! It all started at our Meet the Manufacturer conference, apparently. Brendan McCormack, Steve Shaugnessy, and Andy Ogden, joint owners and general manager respectively, of Culimeta-Saveguard, came to the event to
Coronation Festival’s ‘Best of British’ reveals that not all Royal Warrant holders make their products in the UK Yesterday I had the good fortune to be able to attend the Coronation Festival – an event held in the grounds of
