This week I’m taking you on another of my factory tours – this time to the revolutionary women-owned denim LaundRe in East London run by Salli Deighton. Having worked in denim for 35 years, there’s nothing Salli doesn’t know about denim. Then a few years ago she spotted a gap in the market for an ecological denim washing facility in the UK to service both large and small brands with denim washing and finishing, and that’s exactly what she’s built.
In this episode we cover:
- How Salli went from consulting for brands like M&S, Wrangler and Mothercare to setting up the UK’s only women-owned denim laundry
- Why so much unsold denim stock ends up written off, and how LaundRe is helping brands refinish and resell it instead
- The technology behind ecological denim finishing – from laser machines and ozone fading to nebulising systems that use a fraction of the water of traditional washing
- Why UK brands have never been able to wash their denim here before, and how LaundRe is changing that for small brands with minimum orders starting from one
- The four-year fundraising journey to raise £1.16 million, and what it’s really like trying to get investment as a woman in manufacturing
If you care about British manufacturing, reducing fashion waste and keeping production closer to home, this episode will give you a fascinating look at what’s possible when you refuse to give up on an idea.
About LaundRe
LaundRe is a denim washing and finishing facility based in East London, founded by Salli Deighton. It is the only women-owned denim laundry of its kind and uses low-impact technology including laser machines and ozone fading to refinish, upcycle and process denim for brands ranging from small independents to major retailers.
LaundRe also runs Denim School sessions for brands and designers wanting to understand the finishing process.
You can find Sally and LaundRe at:
Website: www.laundre.co.uk
Instagram: @laundre_uk
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